ua 


U.  S  MIDSHIPMAN 
AFLOAT 

LIEUTENANT  COMMANDER 
YATES  STIRLING,  JR. 

U.  S.'NAVY 


THE  KOA  T  HEADED  UP 
*      TO  THE 


A 


UNITED  STATES 

MIDSHIPMAN 

AFLOAT 


Lt.Com.Yates  Stirling  Jr.USN 


Illustrated  ^tiy  RalphLBoyer 

THE  PENN  PUBLISHING 

COMPANY  PHILADELPHIA 

A\CA\VIII 


COPYRIGHT 
1908  BY 
THE  PENN 
PUBLISHING 
COMPANY 


-4 

~-  n 


Contents 

ENEMY  OR  FRIEND        ....         7 

UNDER  ARREST     .         .         .         .         .21 

THE  TRACK  MEET       ....       38 

THE  FACE  IN  THE  LOCKET    ...       56 
HURRIED  ORDERS          .         .         .         .71 

SECRET  SERVICE  87 

AN  IMPORTANT  DISCOVERY   .         .         .     100 
PRISONERS    .         .         .         .         .         .118 

A  TERRIBLE  PREDICAMENT  .         .         .     141 
THE  SCENE  CHANGES    ....     161 

A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT         .         .         .185 
CAPTAIN  GARCIA'S  STRATEGY        .         .     204 
LAZAR'S  CUNNING         ....     224 

THE  HOUSE  ON  LA  MESA      .         .         .     243 
THE  DEFENSE       .....     258 

THE  ASSAULT        .         .         .         .         .     277 

THE  ACCUSATION  ....     295 

AN  IMPORTANT  WITNESS       .         .         .     311 
THE  COURT  MARTIAL  .         .         .     326 

THE  SEARCH         .....     339 

CONCLUSION 364 


2132849 


Illustrations 

PAGE 

THE  BOAT  HEADED  UP  TO  THE  BUOY  .    .    .  Frontispiece 

"WELL?"  HE  INQUIRED,  COLDLY 76 

HE  FOUND  A  CONVENIENT  AIR  PORT 98 

THE    THREE    PRISONERS    RUSHED   THROUGH    THE 

FLAMES 163 

"  You  SEIZED  ONLY  A  CARGO  OF  ROCKS  " 241 

"  Do  You  REFUSE?  "  HE  CRIED,  HOARSELY     .    .    .  289 
THE  DOOR  OF  THE  ROOM  OPENED  SUDDENLY  .    .    .351 


Midshipman  Afloat 


A    United    States 
Midshipman    Afloat 

CHAPTER  I 

ENEMY    OR    FRIEND 

THE  Navy-Yard  at  Brooklyn  buzzed  with 
its  daily  turmoil  of  labor.  It  was  a  bright 
June  morning,  and  the  high  chimneys  of  the 
numerous  shops  and  foundries  belched  forth 
flame  and  smoke.  Thousands  of  begrimed 
workmen  toiled  incessantly,  hammering, 
bending  and  riveting  masses  of  metal,  fash 
ioning  them  into  shape  to  be  carried  by  the 
steam  cranes  to  be  blended  into  the  hulls  of 
waiting  battle-ships. 

Through  this  scene  of  activity  two  boys 
walked  briskly.  Their  clothing  was  new  and 
in  the  latest  style.  It  clung  to  their  well  set 
up  figures,  betraying  the  hand  of  the  military 
tailor.  Each  carried  a  bright  leather  suit 
case  to  the  top  of  which  a  cased  sword  was 
strapped. 


8  A  UNITED  STATES 

Emerging  from  the  tangle  of  buildings,  the 
youths  glanced  about,  and  an  exclamation  of 
pleasure  escaped  them  as  a  view  of  their 
nation's  sea  power  met  their  eyes  :  ten  huge 
battle-ships  resplendent  in  their  glassy  white 
and  contrasting  buff  paint  lay  tied  up,  filling 
every  foot  of  the  dock  frontage. 

"  Which  is  ours,  Phil  ?  "  asked  one  of  the 
youths,  stopping  and  setting  his  case  down 
with  a  sigh  of  relief. 

Philip  Perry,  as  he  slowly  shifted  his  bag- 
to  his  other  hand,  glanced  down  the  long  line 
of  stately  defenders. 

"  There  she  is,  Syd,"  he  finally  replied, 
pointing  his  free  hand  in  the  direction  of  one 
moored  at  the  foot  of  the  street.  "  The  one 
with  three  smoke-stacks  and  eight  turrets. 
What  a  beauty  she  is  !  " 

Philip  Perry  and  Sydney  Monroe  were  the 
names  stenciled  in  bold  type  on  the  new 
traveling  bags,  and  underneath  the  names  in 
smaller  capitals  were  the  letters  :  U.  S.  N. 

Any  one  familiar  with  the  navy  could  have 
told  by  a  glance  that  they  were  midshipmen, 
just  graduated  from  the  Naval  Academy  at 
Annapolis  and  in  the  distribution  of  their 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  9 

class  to  the  many  ships  of  the  navy,  these 
two  had  received  orders  and  were  on  their 
way  to  report  for  duty  on  board  one  of  the 
powerful  battle-ships  lying  directly  before 
them. 

The  four  years'  course  of  study  at  Annapo 
lis  had  filled  their  minds  with  a  store  of  wis 
dom,  and  the  rigorous  outdoor  drills  had 
given  to  their  bodies  suppleness  and  strength. 
They  were  a  sample  of  the  finished  output 
of  the  Naval  National  Academy. 

The  picturesque  life  on  the  ocean  would 
give  them  ample  opportunity  to  benefit  them 
selves  and  put  to  good  use  their  stored-up 
knowledge.  They  were  on  the  threshold  of  a 
new  era,  in  which  their  character  and  pro 
fessional  worth  would  be  valued  by  the  suc 
cess  achieved. 

As  they  walked  in  silence  toward  their 
future  home,  their  minds  dwelt  on  the  vast 
intricacies  of  this  creation  of  steel,  but  these 
thoughts  were  quickly  forgotten  as  they 
stepped  over  the  side  of  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Con 
necticut  "  and  reported  their  arrival  to  the 
officer  of  the  deck. 

They  were  wrapped  in  wonder  at  the  work 


10  A  UNITED  STATES 

of  getting  a  battle-ship  ready  for  sea.  Ammu 
nition  and  stores  were  being  taken  on  board 
from  huge  cargo  barges  with  lightning  rapid 
ity  by  hundreds  of  strong  bronzed  sailormen. 
All  was  activity.  The  dockyard  had  com 
pleted  its  work  on  the  steel  hull  and  all 
hands  seemed  eager  to  breathe  once  more  the 
pure  air  of  the  sea. 

Five  minutes  later  they  were  grasping  the 
welcoming  hands  of  their  future  messmates 
— those  midshipmen  who  had  been  graduated 
from  Annapolis  one  short  year  ago,  yet  had 
mastered  the  mystery  of  many  things  which 
to  the  newcomers  were  as  an  unopened  book. 

"  The  captain  will  see  you  both  as  soon  as 
you  are  ready,  sir,"  the  marine  orderly  re 
ported  to  Phil. 

Donning  their  bright  new  uniforms,  which 
had  been  the  sole  contents  of  their  valises, 
and  buckling  on  their  swords,  they  were 
ushered  into  the  captain's  spacious  quarters. 

They  found  him  brusque  and  businesslike. 
A  hand  to  each  in  turn,  with  a  firm  manly 
pressure  : 

"  Glad  to  have  you  with  us  ;  "  then  to  the 
attentive  orderly  : 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  11 

"  Show  these  gentlemen  to  the  executive 
officer,"  and  the  ordeal  was  over. 

Phil  and  Sydney  had  no  time  for  conversa 
tion  during  the  next  twenty  minutes,  while 
they  found  themselves  hurried  through  the 
rounds  of  official  formality  and  then  sent  to 
their  quarters  to  unpack  and  be  ready  for  im 
mediate  duty. 

11  They  gave  me  no  choice  of  a  roommate, 
did  they,  Syd  ?  "  said  Phil,  ten  minutes  later, 
as  he  dived  into  his  trunk  and  commenced  to 
toss  his  belongings  on  to  his  bunk  to  have 
them  more  handy  to  stow  into  the  numerous 
small  receptacles  located  about  the  narrow 
room  which  he  and  Sydney  had  been  ordered 
to  occupy. 

"  No,  they  didn't,"  answered  Sydney,  with 
a  grin,  "  but  we  have  stood  each  other  for  four 
years  ;  I  guess  we  can  do  it  for  two  more." 

The  last  of  their  belongings  was  scarcely 
stowed  when  a  servant  announced  that  the 
midday  meal  was  ready  in  the  mess  room. 

They  entered  and  were  greeted  by  more  of 
their  former  schoolmates.  Phil  found  his  seat 
next  to  Marshall,  an  old  friend  of  Annapolis 
days,  who  was  anxious  to  give  him  all  the  tips 


12  A  UNITED  STATES 

possible  on  what  he  could  expect  in  his  daily 
life  on  a  battle-ship.  Phil  listened  intently 
while  he  breathlessly  recited  all  the  gems  of 
wisdom  that  came  into  his  head  : 

"  You  are  in  Lazar's  division.  It's  a  crack- 
erjack,  too ;  you've  got  your  work  cut  out  for 
you.  He's  a  hustler.  He  isn't  much  liked  by 
the  middies  because  he  '  horses '  us  so  much, 
but  the  captain  swears  by  him.  Beaty — you 
remember  old  '  Pike  '? — he  had  your  job,  but 
I  guess  Lazar  was  too  many  for  him.  We 
sent  him  to  the  hospital  with  nerves  a  week 
ago.  Some  of  the  fellows  saw  him  yesterday, 
doing  the  gentleman  act  there,  looking  as  pink 
and  fresh  as  a  girl.  Hope  you  will  manage 
all  right." 

Phil  tried  to  look  cheerful,  but  Marshall's 
quick  eye  detected  something  wrong. 

"Do  you  know  Lazar  ?  of  course  you  were 
at  the  Academy  with  him,  but :" 

He  stopped  and  glanced  hurriedly  into  Phil's 
face,  then  dropped  his  voice  : 

"  Why,  it  was  you  that  fought  him.  How 
unfortunate  !  "  Then  musingly, "  He  is  not  the 
man  to  forget." 

"  I  can't  believe  that  he  would  allow  a  boy's 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  13 

quarrel — remember,  that  was  nearly  four  years 
ago — to  influence  his  feelings  for  me  now," 
answered  Phil,  gaining  but  scant  comfort  from 
his  own  words. 

He  remembered  how  bitter  Lazar  had  been 
in  his  relations  to  him  the  few  months  before 
the  older  man  graduated  and  left  him  in 
peace.  He  was  but  a  plebe  then.  Well,  the 
future  would  tell. 

As  soon  as  the  short  meal  was  over  Phil 
went  to  his  room  and  changed  his  uniform, 
donning  the  oldest  he  owned,  but  the  bright 
lace  and  lustrous  braid  was  in  great  contrast 
to  the  uniforms  of  those  officers  and  midship 
men  who  had  received  their  baptism  of  salt 
spray,  in  the  year  at  sea  on  board  the  battle 
ship,  cruising  and  drilling  until  their  ship 
was  considered  to  be  in  efficient  condition  to 
join  the  fleet  and  compete  in  all  the  drills  and 
games  that  go  to  make  up  the  very  full  itiner 
ary  of  the  sailor's  life  afloat. 

Sydney  came  in  full  of  enthusiasm,  having 
seen  his  divisional  officer  and  obtained  an  idea 
of  what  he  had  to  do. 

"  I  have  a  fine  job,"  he  cried,  as  he  threw 
his  coat  on  his  bunk  and  started  to  get  out  his 


H  A  UNITED  STATES 

older  clothes.  "  Four  seven-inch  guns,  all  my 
own  ;  Lieutenant  Brand  says  if  I  don't  make 
all  hits  at  target  practice,  he  won't  give  me  a 
two-five " 

Then,  stopping  and  catching  sight  of  his 
chum's  face  in  the  mirror  back  of  the  wash- 
stand  : 

"Whatever  is  wrong,  Phil?"  he  exclaimed 
anxiously.  "  You  look  as  glum  as  an  oyster." 

Phil  hesitated.  Should  he  confide  in  his 
roommate  of  Annapolis  days?  Or  should  he 
fight  it  out  alone  ?  He  felt  it  was  a  situation 
needing  every  ounce  of  his  manhood  and  tact. 
What  harm  could  be  done  by  asking  Syd's 
friendly  advice  ? 

"  I  have  great  misgivings,  Syd,"  he  com 
menced  cautiously.  "  I  was  prepared  for  al 
most  anything,  but  Lazar  for  my  divisional 
officer  had  never  occurred  to  me.  Do  you 
blame  me  for  looking  and  feeling  glum?  " 

Sydney's  joyous  face  became  serious  in  an 
instant. 

"  That's  certainly  hard  luck.  Why  couldn't 
I  have  been  assigned  to  his  division  instead 
of  you  ?  "  exclaimed  he,  generously.  "  I  never 
liked  him,  but  he  doesn't  know  me  from  an 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  15 

old  shoe,  and  he  has  a  good  reason  to  know 
you."  Then,  reminiscently,  "  I  can  remem 
ber  his  face  after  your  fight  with  him  as 
plainly  as  if  it  were  yesterday  ;  the  referee 
called  it  a  draw,  but  every  one  knew  that  you 
had  the  better  of  the  fight.  He  was  in  the 
hospital  for  a  week  until  his  face  healed  up, 
while  you  were  in  ranks  at  the  next 
formation,  with  no  more  marks  than  I  give 
myself  daily  shaving." 

"  Do  you  believe  he  has  forgotten,  or  at 
least  forgiven  ?  "  asked  Phil. 

"  You  or  I  would  have  long  ago,"  replied 
Sydney  thoughtfully,  "  but  Lazar  always 
seemed  so  vindictive  to  me ;  maybe  his  Latin 
blood  makes  him  so.  Jules  Lazar  is  not 
an  appropriate  name  for  a  forgiving  nature ; 
it  sounds  very  belligerent  to  me." 

"  You  certainly  are  comforting,"  smiled 
Phil,  as  he  started  to  leave  the  room  to  report 
to  his  divisional  officer  and  find  out  for  him 
self  what  the  outward  signs  of  friendship  or 
enmity  might  tell. 

With  many  misgivings  he  went  up  the 
companion  ladder  leading  to  the  quarter-deck. 
As  his  foot  touched  the  clean  white  deck,  he 


16  A  UNITED  STATES 

raised  his  hand  to  his  cap  in  salute  to  the 
flag. 

Standing  near  the  great  twelve-inch  tur 
ret,  managing  the  labor  of  filling  the 
spacious  storerooms  and  magazines,  was 
Lazar,  the  spy-glass  in  his  gloved  hand 
identifying  him  as  the  officer  of  the  deck,  in 
charge  of  the  progress  of  work  on  the  big- 
fighter. 

Phil  stepped  smartly  up  to  him  and 
saluted. 

Lazar  turned  slowly  toward  him.  His 
brow  contracted  imperceptibly  as  he  returned 
the  salute  of  the  midshipman. 

"  Mr.  Perry  reports  to  you,  sir,  as  junior 
officer  of  the  fourth  division,"  Phil  said  in 
the  official  tone  he  had  been  taught  to  use  at 
Annapolis.  His  eyes  unwaveringly  sought 
the  restless  energetic  face  of  his  divisional 
officer. 

Would  Lazar  give  him  his  hand  ?  Phil 
was  ready  to  believe  that  his  boyish  quarrel 
and  fight  were  forgiven.  He  waited  what 
seemed  a  long  time  while  officer  and  midship 
man  each  looked  straight  into  the  eyes  of  the 
other.  Neither  wavered,  and  each  seemed  to 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  17 

wish  to  sweep  aside  the  other's  mask  and  read 
the  thoughts  behind  the  cold  impassive  ex 
terior. 

"  Aye,  aye,  Mr.  Perry,"  finally  replied 
Lazar.  "  Get  a  correct  list  of  the  division,  and 
a  copy  of  our  station  bills.  You  will  find 
them  posted  in  the  division  bulletin-board." 
Then  glancing  at  the  bright  clean  uniform  of 
the  youth  before  him,  "  You  had  better  put 
on  your  oldest  clothes,  then  come  up  here, 
and  I  shall  give  you  something  to  occupy 
you.  You  stand  watch  with  me,  you 
know?" 

Phil  held  his  hand  at  his  side  ready  to 
offer  it  at  the  first  intimation  that  it  would  be 
accepted  by  the  older  man,  but  Lazar  did  not 
show  by  voice  or  sign  that  he  wished  for 
anything  more  than  purely  official  relations 
with  the  midshipman. 

"  I  am  ready  now  for  duty,  sir,"  answered 
Phil  in  a  voice  that,  strive  as  he  could  to  hide 
it,  betrayed  a  tone  of  disappointment,  tinged 
with  indignation.  Glancing  down  at  his  con 
verted  Annapolis  uniform,  "  I  have  no  older 
ones,"  he  confessed.  "  I  might  as  well  break 
this  in,  sir." 


i8  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Very  good ;  you  will  take  charge  of  the 
work  on  the  forecastle."  Glancing  about  and 
motioning  a  smart-looking  petty  officer  to  ad 
vance,  "  O'Neil,  here,  is  in  our  division."  Then 
addressing  the  attentive  coxswain,  "  You  are 
excused  from  other  work  and  will  lend  Mr. 
Perry  a  hand.  He  is  our  new  midshipman, 
and  is  about  to  direct  the  work  on  the  forecas 
tle."  Then  again  turning  to  Phil  and  dropping 
his  voice  :  "  That's  a  splendid  man,  he  knows 
the  name  of  every  man  on  board.  You  will 
find  him  a  willing  subordinate." 

Phil  saluted  stiffly  in  Annapolis  fashion, 
while  O'Neil  jerked  his  hand  toward  his  cap 
and  in  a  businesslike  voice  announced  his 
readiness  by  a  hearty,  "  Aye,  aye,  sir." 

O'Neil  led  the  way  through  the  battery  deck, 
the  men  engaged  in  work  there  standing  aside 
in  respectful  attention  to  allow  the  new  ar 
rival  to  pass. 

Phil's  mind  wavered  between  the  decision 
that  Lazar  would  give  him  a  fair  showing,  and 
the  contrary  one  that  he  would  make  his  life 
as  unpleasant  as  possible ;  and  from  the  ac 
counts  he  had  heard  of  Beaty,  the  midship 
man  in  the  hospital  with  "  too  much  Lazar," 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  19 

as  one  of  the  midshipmen  had  diagnosed 
his  complaint,  he  knew  his  new  divisional 
officer,  by  voice  and  action,  could  make  the 
life  of  one  he  disliked  so  unhappy  that  a  cot 
in  the  hospital  might  be  preferable. 

He  found  his  work  on  the  forecastle  just 
what  he  needed  to  keep  his  mind  off  his  troub 
les,  and  in  the  language  of  O'Neil :  "  he 
made  good,"  as  he  encouraged,  directed  and 
helped  the  men  handle  the  bulky  pack 
ages. 

"  That's  a  fine  young  gentleman,"  O'Neil 
confided  to  a  brother  petty  officer,  as  he  watched 
Phil  put  his  shoulder  against  a  twelve-inch 
shell  and  guide  it  clear  of  an  iron  hatch  top. 
"Do  you  see  the  way  the  boys  are  working? 
As  if  they  were  to  get  shore  leave  at  the  end 
of  this  job.  It's  a  pity  to  see  him  spoil  them 
bright  new  clothes,  but  when  I  tried  to  help 
him  he  told  me  he  wanted  exercise." 

Phil  had  found  his  thoughts  very  unpleas 
ant  companions  as  he  had  watched  the  work 
progress,  and  now  doing  the  manual  labor  of 
a  leading  man,  he  had  forgotten,  for  the  time 
at  least,  the  sombre  reflections  that  had,  like 
spectres,  come  into  his  mind. 


20  A  UNITED  STATES 

Would  this  man  attempt  to  ruin  him  ? 
And  could  he  do  so  if  he  so  wished  ? 

He  considered  going  to  the  captain  and  ask 
ing  to  be  assigned  to  another  division,  stating 
his  reasons,  but  he  saw  immediately  how 
childish  it  would  seem  to  that  busy  officer. 
A  boys'  quarrel,  long  ago  forgotten,  he  would 
call  it. 

Phil  wished  it  were  so. 


CHAPTER  II 

UNDER    ARREST 

PHIL  awakened  the  next  morning  at  an 
early  hour.  Hurriedly  dressing,  he  went  on 
deck. 

His  sleep  had  refreshed  him  and  his  mind 
was  less  ready  to  dwell  on  the  dark  side  of  his 
life  on  board  ship.  He  believed  when  he  and 
Lazar  had  become  better  acquainted  the  old 
grudge  would  be  overshadowed  in  the  intimacy 
of  the  life  on  the  ocean. 

With  muster-roll  and  station  bills  neatly 
copied  in  his  note-books,  he  was  impatient  for 
the  bugle  to  sound  the  call  to  "  quarters," 
when  he  would  meet  his  division  for  the  first 
time. 

He  watched  with  interest  the  scene  about 
him.  Petty  officers  and  men  were  busily  en 
gaged  putting  the  finishing  touches  to  the 
clean  deck  and  bright  brass  work  of  the  ves 
sel.  Others  were  using  a  clothes-brush  care 
fully  on  their  neatly  fitting  blue  uniforms  or 

21 


22  A  UNITED  STATES 

giving  a  parting  rub  to  their  broad  shoes. 
The  gunners'  mates  guarded  their  huge  guns 
jealously,  occasionally  rubbing  an  imaginary 
spot  of  rust  or  dirt. 

While  the  bugle  call  was  being  sounded  on 
each  of  the  many  decks,  he  was  an  interested 
spectator  of  the  magic  effect  of  the  clear  notes. 
Confusion  seemed  to  melt  away  into  the  most 
perfect  order  as  men  took  their  places  in  ranks 
abreast  the  guns  they  served. 

Lazar  stood  facing  his  division, — fifty  well 
set  up,  youthful  men.  Back  of  him  were  the 
turret  guns  for  which  his  division  formed  the 
crews.  Across  the  deck  the  marine  guard  was 
paraded,  the  military  bearing  of  the  soldier- 
sailors  contrasting  with  the  easy  pose  of  the 
picturesque  sailormen  about  them. 

The  executive  officer  was  at  his  station 
across  the  deck  from  Lazar. 

Such  is  the  formation  for  quarters  on 
board  a  war-ship  of  the  navy.  Each  divisional 
officer  musters  his  men,  inspecting  carefully, 
in  order  that  the  standard  of  neatness  may 
be  maintained.  He  then  reports  the  result  to 
the  executive  officer,  receives  his  orders  for 
drill  and  returns  to  his  station. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  23 

Upon  the  completion  of  muster  the  captain 
will  be  informed  of  the  number  of  absentees 
and  then  this  report  is  signaled  to  the  flag 
ship. 

Upon  such  a  scene  Phil  gazed  for  the  first 
time  as  an  officer  and  thrilled  to  the  impress 
ive  ceremony.  He  stood  at  "  attention  "  on 
the  right  of  the  division. 

Lazar,  muster-book  in  hand,  glanced  along 
the  double  line  of  men  until  his  eyes  rested 
on  his  midshipman.  The  precision  in  the 
attitude  of  his  junior  caught  his  eye.  His 
glance  wavered  and  the  slightest  of  sneers 
appeared  on  his  face.  For  the  fraction  of  a 
second  he  seemed  to  hesitate,  then  words  that 
brought  the  blush  of  shame  and  anger  to  the 
face  of  the  unsuspecting  boy  struck  harshly 
upon  his  ears  : 

"  Mr.  Perry,  I  gave  you  the  credit  for 
knowing  that  at  quarters  all  officers  must 
wear  sword  and  gloves.  Go  below,  sir,  and 
get  yourself  in  proper  uniform." 

Phil  stood  motionless.  He  was  stunned  for 
the  moment,  not  so  much  by  the  words  as 
by  the  scorn  in  his  voice. 

Almost  overcome  with  confusion  and  em- 


24  A  UNITED  STATES 

barrassment,  he  turned  away  and  hastily 
descended  the  ladder  to  the  deck  below. 

Once  more  in  his  room  he  found  his  sword 
and  gloves  where  he  had  placed  them  but  ten 
minutes  before  the  call  to  quarters.  Then 
had  come  a  call  to  the  executive  officer,  and 
once  on  deck  all  save  the  scene  about  him 
was  driven  from  his  mind.  His  own  thought 
lessness  alone  could  be  blamed,  but  the  sneer 
in  Lazar's  voice  rankled. 

When  he  again  reached  the  deck,  the  men 
had  broken  ranks  and  the  sharp  pipe  of  the 
whistles  of  the  boatswain  and  his  mates 
filled  the  air,  followed  in  sonorous  tones  and 
in  perfect  chorus  : 

"  All  hands  unmoor  ship." 

The  stout  hemp  lines  and  chains  securing 
the  battle-ship  to  the  dock  were  cast  off,  and 
like  writhing  serpents,  hauled  aboard  by  the 
lusty  crew.  The  two  great  propellers  churned 
the  muddy  water  and  the  war-ship  glided 
out  into  the  crowded  waters  of  the  East 
River. 

Two  handy  tugs  attached  themselves  to 
this  unwieldy  mass  of  steel  and  slowly 
swung  her  armored  bow  toward  the  Brooklyn 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  25 

Bridge,  spanning  the  river  like  a  huge  rain 
bow  of  metal. 

"  Let  go  !  "  shouted  the  captain  of  the  war 
ship  to  his  tiny  helpmates ;  then  to  the 
attentive  executive  officer  by  his  side  — 

"  Slow  speed  ahead  !  " 

Quietly,  the  powerful  engines  started  in 
motion  the  sixteen  thousand  tons  of  fighting 
material. 

"  Half  speed  ahead,"  ordered  the  cap 
tain. 

The  Brooklyn  Bridge  swept  by  overhead. 
The  docks  and  shipping  melted  into  a  con 
fusion  of  masts  and  smoke-stacks. 

Through  the  harbor  the  battle-ship  glided 
like  a  great  giant,  then  turned  and  headed 
through  the  Narrows  for  the  open  sea. 

The  ship  was  soon  well  out  on  the  Atlantic, 
the  haze  of  the  city  melted  astern.  The  low 
lying  coast  of  Long  Island  was  dimly  in 
sight  on  the  port  hand. 

The  two  friends  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
day  in  getting  their  bearings  in  their  new 
home,  and  when  eight  o'clock  came  were  quite 
willing  to  seek  their  bunks. 

It  was  midnight  when  Phil  found  himself 


26  A  UNITED  STATES 

by  Lazar's  side  on  the  high  bridge  of  the 
battle-ship,  as  junior  officer  of  the  watch. 

The  wind,  which  had  been  light  at  the 
start,  had  increased  steadily  in  violence  until 
now  the  vessel  was  plunging  heavily  into  the 
teeth  of  a  moderate  gale.  Her  powerful 
engines  crowded  her  steel  shod  prow  with 
terrific  force  into  the  rising  seas,  flinging  tons 
of  spray  on  to  her  high  forecastle. 

Lazar  stood  with  his  face  close  to  the 
canvass  weather  cloth,  for  the  protection  of 
those  on  the  bridge  against  the  force  of  the 
blast,  and  peered  through  the  inky  blackness. 

The  responsibility  for  the  ship  rested  upon 
his  shoulders  for  the  next  four  hours. 

Turning  toward  the  younger  man,  he  mo 
tioned  him  nearer. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  your  duties  are  to  muster  the 
watch  on  deck,"  he  shouted  in  Phil's  ear,  in 
order  to  be  heard  in  the  roar  of  the  wind  ; 
"  examine  both  life-boats  ;  see  that  everything 
movable  about  decks  is  secure.  We  are  going 
to  have  a  bad  night,"  he  added,  glancing  at 
the  angry  sea.  "  Your  duty  is  to  go  in  the 
life-boat  if  she  is  called  away  ;  but  I  shall  not 
lower  a  boat  to-night." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  27 

Phil  glanced  in  amazement  at  the  officer 
of  the  deck.  He  could  but  see  the  outline  of 
his  face  in  the  gloom  of  his  southwester. 

"  Did  I  understand  you,  sir,  to  say  you 
would  not  lower  a  life-boat  to-night  ? "  he 
asked  incredulously. 

"  Yes,  sir,  you  did,"  snapped  Lazar,  "  in  this 
sea  to  do  so  would  mean  sending  seven  men 
to  death." 

Phil  made  his  way  aft,  to  where  the  watch 
had  gathered  to  keep  dry  against  the  heavy 
seas  of  spray  that  periodically  were  flung  over 
the  deck. 

O'Neil  held  the  lantern  while  Phil  called 
off  the  men's  names.  Then  he  and  O'Neil 
climbed  out  and  examined  the  life-boats,  one 
on  each  side,  swung  securely  from  their  davits, 
overhanging  the  angry  water.  Then  Phil 
went  on  the  quarter-deck  and  questioned  the 
marine  sentry  at  the  patent  life-buoy.  Every 
one  seemed  to  be  well  instructed.  All  was 
secure. 

"  Keep  your  men  from  the  side,"  he  cau 
tioned  the  boatswain's  mate  of  the  watch  ;  "  we 
don't  want  any  one  overboard  in  a  sea  like 
this." 


28  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  the  sailor,  "  there 
ain't  any  danger  now  ;  maybe  when  they  hoists 
ashes  some  of  them  lubberly  firemen  may 
get  too  near  the  side.  But  I'll  warn  'um, 
sir." 

Returning  to  his  station  on  the  bridge,  he 
sought  the  friendly  shelter  of  the  weather 
cloth  against  the  increasing  fierceness  of  the 
wind  and  stinging  spray.  The  sound  of  flap 
ping  canvas  and  the  sea  breaking  its  fury  on 
the  steel  bow  were  the  only  sounds  above  the 
roar  of  the  wind. 

Phil  counted  not  the  time.  All  was  too 
new  and  absorbing.  His  thoughts  had  turned 
to  many  things  when  his  breathing  stopped 
and  his  heart  sank  as  a  terrifying  cry  from 
aft  came  faintly  but  clearly  to  his  ears. 

"  Man  overboard." 

He  was  rooted  to  the  spot.  In  helpless 
consternation  he  looked  to  his  officer  for  in 
structions.  A  human  being  was  adrift  in  this 
angry  sea,  or  maybe  had  been  already  killed 
by  a  swiftly  moving  propeller  blade. 

As  in  a  dream  he  saw  Lazar  grasp  the 
handles  of  the  telegraphs  to  the  engine  room 
and  signal  "  full  speed  astern." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  29 

There  could  be  but  one  interpretation. 
Lazar  would  lower  a  life-boat  after  all. 

Phil  ran  down  the  bridge  ladder  and  swung 
himself  nimbly  out  on  the  life-boat  gallery. 

There  he  found  the  lee  life-boat  ready  for 
lowering  ;  six  sailors  sat  quietly  at  the  thwarts, 
while  those  of  the  watch  had  led  out  the  boat- 
falls.  O'Neil,  the  coxswain,  with  his  hand  on 
the  strong-back,  stood  ready  to  leap  into  the 
boat.  That  they  were  doing  more  than  their 
duty  did  not  occur  to  these  stout  American 
hearts.  A  fellow-being  was  in  danger  of 
drowning — that  was  enough  reason  for  them. 

"  Shall  I  lower,  sir?  "  the  coxswain  shouted 
to  Phil  as  the  latter  swung  himself  over  the 
rail  of  the  superstructure  and  stood  by  his 
side  ;  "  he  can't  live  long  in  this  sea." 

Phil  surveyed  hastily  the  strongly  built 
boat,  then  his  gaze  traveled  down  to  the  angry 
sea  beneath  him. 

The  engines  were  backing.  He  saw  the 
heavy  surge  of  the  sea  astern  as  the  propellers 
threw  a  powerful  race  current  forward.  Why 
did  not  the  order  come  ?  After  the  ship  had 
started  astern  the  boat  could  not  be  lowered. 
Far  away  on  the  lee  quarter  the  chemical 


30  A  UNITED  STATES 

flame  of  the  patent  life-buoy  showed  a  dim 
light  against  a  background  of  troubled  waters. 

Under  the  spell  of  one  of  those  impulses 
that  seem  to  take  possession  so  absolutely  of 
the  mind  in  times  of  emergency,  Phil  cried  : 

"  Lower  away,"  and  he  and  O'Neil  swung 
themselves  on  board  the  life-boat  as  she 
dropped  evenly  and  quickly  toward  the  black 
sea  beneath  her. 

Phil  seized  the  handle  of  the  steering  oar  in 
both  hands,  motioning  O'Neil  away.  The 
boat  shivered  as  she  struck  the  lumpy  sea. 

"  Sit  here,  O'Neil,  and  hang  on  to  my  legs," 
shouted  Phil  at  the  top  of  his  lungs,  through 
the  roaring  of  the  gale,  as  the  boat  shot  ahead 
on  her  life-line,  while  with  the  steering  oar 
he  swung  her  stern  in  toward  the  white  wall 
of  the  battle-ship  towering  above  them. 

The  life-line  sheered  the  boat  clear  of  the 
menacing  ship. 

"  Let  go,"  shouted  the  youth. 

"  Give  way  !  Bend  to  it,  men,"  he  cau 
tioned,  turning  the  life-boat's  prow  toward  the 
flicker  of  light  appearing  periodically  on  the 
crest  of  a  wave  and  quickly  disappearing  down 
into  its  deep  trough. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  31 

Straight-backed  and  supple  the  six  oarsmen 
sent  the  long,  narrow  boat  over  the  seas  that 
seemed  ready  to  engulf  her. 

"  Never  mind  me,"  shouted  Phil  to  O'Neil, 
bracing  his  legs  firmly  against  the  stern 
boards.  "  Stand  by  forward  there,  we  shall 
be  at  the  life-buoy  in  a  moment." 

O'Neil  glanced  with  grave  concern  at  the 
midshipman. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir.  Keep  your  weather  eye 
open,  sir,"  he  cautioned.  "  If  you  go  over 
board  with  them  rubber  boots  on,  you'll  go  to 
the  bottom  like  a  shot." 

Protesting  at  the  boy's  recklessness,  he 
crawled  forward  and  stood  ready  to  grasp  the 
man  if  he  were  clinging  to  the  life-buoy  or 
yet  swimming  on  the  surface  of  the  angry 
water. 

"Can  you  see  the  buoy,  sir?"  shouted 
O'Neil.  "  It's  broad  off  the  starboard  bow." 

"  I  see  it,"  shouted  back  Phil,  as  he  threw 
the  stern  to  port  and  bore  down  on  the 
two  flames  still  burning  brightly  amid  the 
tempest. 

"  Stand  by  to  '  peak  your  oars.'  Peak  !  "  he 
shouted  to  the  crew  as  the  boat  with  a  rush 


32  A  UNITED  STATES 

was  brought  around  and  headed  up  to  the 
buoy. 

"  He's  there,  boys,"  cried  O'Neil,  joyously, 
as  he  leaned  far  out  and  grasped  a  limp, 
bedraggled  figure  clinging  to  the  life-buoy. 
The  men  dropped  the  handles  of  their  oars 
between  their  feet,  raising  the  blades  clear  of 
the  passing  waves. 

"  In  you  come,  my  hearty,"  cried -the  cox 
swain,  as  his  arms  encircled  the  half-drowned 
man,  and  he  lifted  him  from  the  hungry  sea 
to  safety  in  the  life-boat. 

Searchlights  were  now  playing  from  the 
battle-ship.  One  beam  of  light  held  steadily 
on  the  struggling  boat,  while  the  others  swept 
fretfully  about  as  if  they  sought  to  pierce  the 
dark  water. 

As  the  midshipman  struggled  manfully  at 
the  steering  oar,  holding  the  bow  of  the  boat 
up  against  the  impact  of  the  powerful  seas, 
Lazar's  words  seemed  to  ring  in  his  ears  like 
a  knell. 

Fear  clutched  at  his  heart  that  he  might 
by  his  disobedience  send  these  brave  men  to 
a  watery  grave. 

As  long  as  the  oarsmen  could  give  the  boat 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  33 

headway,  he  felt  confident  all  would  go  well, 
but  some  of  the  men  were  exhausted,  and  the 
sea  was  ever  increasing. 

"  Steady,  men  !  Give  way  together.  This  is 
for  your  lives,"  he  shouted,  as  a  white  wall 
of  water  reared  itself  close  aboard  out  of  the 
blackness  to  windward. 

The  boat  seemed  to  fairly  crawl  over  the 
angry  bosom  of  foam. 

"  Stand  by  to  peak  your  oars,"  he  shouted 
hoarsely.  "  Peak ! "  as  the  monster  wave 
curled  over,  ready  to  engulf  them,  and  struck 
the  bow  of  the  life-boat.  She  shivered  to  her 
keel  and  half  filled  with  water,  then  lay  dead 
on  the  surface  of  the  sea. 

Wave  after  wave  swept  over  the  half-sub 
merged  boat,  almost  drowning  the  exhausted 
crew.  Phil  attempted  frantically  to  head  the 
boat  up  to  the  battering  seas. 

Casting  a  despairing  look  at  his  men,  whose 
efforts  were  becoming  ever  weaker,  he  read  on 
their  faces  a  look  of  hope.  Throwing  a  swift 
glance  over  his  shoulder,  he  saw  the  misty 
form  of  the  "  Connecticut "  loom  up  out  of 
the  darkness,  scarce  a  boat's  length  away. 
He  heard  the  whir  of  her  backing  propellers ; 


34  A  UNITED  STATES 

the  dull  boom  of  the  sea  spending  its 
fury  against  her  sides ;  the  rapidly  given 
orders,  and  the  scurry  of  shod  feet  on  her 
decks. 

A  line  whistled  overhead  and  fell  in  the 
midst  of  the  exhausted  crew. 

"  Take  a  turn  with  that  line,"  Phil  shouted. 

O'Neil  grasped  the  line  and  secured  it  to 
the  bow-thwart  of  the  boat. 

Phil  braced  himself  against  the  jar  of  the 
tautening  line. 

The  boat  rose  and  fell  on  the  angry  sea,  in 
momentary  danger  of  splitting  herself  asunder 
on  the  sides  of  the  battle-ship.  The  waves, 
but  half  broken  by  the  armored  bow,  swept 
over  the  struggling  men. 

He  felt  himself  grasped  and  held  strongly 
by  hands  from  above,  and  then  slowly  hauled 
upward.  He  saw  the  whole  boat  lifted  on  a 
giant  sea  and  then  swept  wildly  against  the 
ship's  steel  side.  A  crash  of  splintered  wood. 
Then  all  was  darkness. 

Phil  opened  his  eyes  in  his  own  room,  with 
Sydney  and  Marshall  bending  over  him  and 
a  doctor  binding  up  a  cut  over  his  temple. 
Two  or  three  times  he  attempted  to  speak,  to 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  3$ 

find  out  the  worst.  He  knew  that  the  life  of 
every  man  sacrificed  was  caused  by  his  im 
pulse.  He  had  given  the  order  to  lower  the 
boat  directly  contrary  to  the  stated  instruc 
tions  of  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

He  had  not  the  courage  to  ask  of  the  fate 
of  his  men.  He  had  seen  the  boat  go  to 
pieces  with  his  own  eyes,  surely  some  of  the 
crew  had  been  drowned. 

He  could  not  stand  the  suspense  a  moment 
longer.  He  must  know  all.  It  would  be 
better  than  this  uncertainty. 

"  Syd,  tell  me  what  happened  ?  "  he  whis 
pered  hoarsely. 

"  All  were  saved,"  Sydney  answered.  "  We 
abandoned  the  boat,  of  course.  You  were 
struck  by  a  splinter  as  you  were  being  hauled 
on  board.  You  are  the  biggest  man  on  this 
ship  to-night,  Phil." 

The  joyful  news  made  the  overwrought  boy 
tremble.  He  turned  his  face  away  to  hide 
his  emotion. 

Greatly  strengthened  by  the  happy  tidings, 
he  put  on  dry  clothes  and,  despite  Sydney's 
offer  to  stand  the  remainder  of  his  watch, 
made  his  way  to  the  bridge  to  report  his 


36  A  UNITED  STATES 

return  to  Lazar.  It  seemed  an  age  since  he 
had  responded  to  that  terrifying  cry,  but  the 
clock  told  him  it  had  been  but  scarce  a  half 
hour  ago. 

What  would  Lazar  say  ?  Would  not  suc 
cess  wipe  away  the  guilt  of  disobedience  ? 
What  was  the  loss  of  a  boat  compared  to  the 
loss  of  a  human  life  ? 

With  a  cheerful  ring  in  his  voice  he  re 
ported  his  return  to  duty. 

"  I  was  struck  by  a  piece  of  the  boat,  sir," 
he  offered  in  excuse  for  his  tardiness.  The 
ship  had  been  on  her  course  for  nearly  ten 
minutes. 

Lazar  turned  on  him  fiercely.  His  even 
white  teeth  gleamed  under  his  black  mous 
tache. 

"  You  can  thank  Providence,  Mr.  Perry,  that 
you  are  alive  this  moment."  His  voice  rose 
in  anger.  "  A  midshipman  who  cannot  obey 
orders  is  a  menace  to  the  safety  of  those  under 
him.  That  you  were  not  all  drowned  was  due 
to  me,  sir.  I  saved  you  by  putting  the  ship 
between  your  boat  and  the  seas,  and  hauling 
you  aboard  like  so  much  cargo."  Then  in  a 
voice  cold  and  passionless  :  "I  have  received 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  37 

the    captain's  authority,  Mr.  Perry,  to  place 
you  under  arrest  for  wilfully  disobeying  my 
order.     You  will  go  to  your  room,  sir." 
Phil  turned  away  without  a  word. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  TRACK  MEET 

"  BRACE  up  and  don't  pull  such  a  long  face, 
Phil,"  Sydney  was  saying  in  their  room  after 
breakfast  the  next  morning. 

"  You  are  the  boast  of  the  ship,  and  the 
captain  will  not  be  severe  with  you.  You 
disobeyed  orders,  of  course,  but  so  did  Admiral 
Nelson  at  the  battle  of  the  Nile,  and  yet  he  was 
promoted  for  his  action  because  he  '  made 
good  ' " 

"  Yes,  but  I  didn't  '  make  good.'  Lazar 
'  made  good  '  for  me  and  he  took  pains  to  tell 
me  so  last  night.  I  would  rather  have  drowned 
than  listen  to  his  scornful  denunciation  of  my 
conduct,"  answered  Phil  sadly. 

"  You  are  entirely  too  sensitive,"  answered 
Sydney  in  a  disgusted  voice.  "  If  I  had  been 
in  your  place  last  night  I'd  have  been  proud  of 
myself,  and  Lazar's  scorn  would  be  as  water 
on  a  duck's  back.  Every  one  is  for  you,  even 
Mr.  Pen  field,  the  executive  officer.  I  hear 

38 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  39 

he  said  at  the  wardroom  mess-table  that  he 
was  of  the  opinion  that  you  should  be  publicly 
commended  by  the  secretary  of  the  navy." 

Phil  blushed  with  pleasure  at  his  friend's 
impetuous  words. 

"  Did  he,  though  ?  "  he  said,  brightly  ;  then 
his  face  clouded  as  his  eyes  fell  on  his  empty 
sword  rack. 

"  The  humiliation  of  the  arrest  is  what 
hurts,"  he  added.  "  When  the  captain  sent 
for  my  sword  I  felt  like  a  veritable 
traitor." 

"  There  you  are,  sentiment  again,"  cried 
Sydney.  "  The  sword  is  merely  a  matter  of 
form.  You  will  have  it  again  in  a  jiffy.  I'm 
coming  back  as  soon  as  we  anchor,"  he  added, 
buckling  on  his  sword  and  hurriedly  leaving 
the  room  as  the  bugle  call  sounded,  and  the 
boatswain's  mates'  hoarse  voices  were  heard 
calling  : 

"  Bring  ship  to  an  anchor  ! " 

Throwing  himself  into  his  chair,  Phil  turned 
over  in  his  mind  the  various  incidents  that 
had  led  to  his  arrest.  How  could  he  answer 
Lazar's  accusations  ?  His  only  manly  course 
was  to  acknowledge  his  guilt  and  hope  for  the 


40  A  UNITED  STATES 

captain's  clemency.  Down  in  his  heart  he 
knew  he  would  do  the  same  again.  It  was 
cruel  to  stand  by  and  see  a  man  perish  with 
out  raising  a  hand.  Yet  Lazar's  judgment 
had  been  sound.  For  the  benefit  of  many  it 
were  better  to  allow  one  to  drown. 

Alone  in  his  room  he  followed  the  move 
ments  of  the  ship  by  the  noises  about  him. 
As  the  vibrations  of  the  propellers  lessened,  he 
knew  that  the  vessel  was  near  the  anchored 
fleet  and  had  slowed  her  engines.  Shortly, 
he  heard  the  rattle  of  chain  as  the  anchor  was 
dropped  overboard. 

"  Sir,  the  captain  wishes  to  see  Mr.  Perry  in 
the  cabin,"  announced  the  orderly  five  min 
utes  later. 

Entering  the  cabin,  Phil  removed  his  cap 
and  stood  with  military  exactness  before  his 
commanding  officer. 

"  Take  a  seat,  Mr.  Perry,"  said  the  captain, 
not  unkindly. 

A  few  moments  elapsed,  then  Lazar  entered, 
and  at  a  motion  from  the  captain  occupied  a 
chair  next  to  Phil. 

Phil's  heart  beat  fast.  The  solemnity  of  the 
occasion  awed  him.  His  hopes  were  ready  to 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  41 

sink  within  him  as  he  waited  for  the  captain's 
decision. 

"  Gentlemen,"  the  captain  began,  weighing 
his  words,  "  Mr.  Perry,  in  deliberately  dis 
obeying  the  order  of  his  senior  officer,  helped 
to  save  an  unfortunate  man  from  certain 
death;"  the  captain  hesitated  and  shifted  his 
gaze  to  Lazar.  "  If  it  had  not  been  for  the 
masterful  manner  in  which  the  officer  of  the 
deck,  Mr.  Lazar,  handled  the  ship,  placing 
her  between  the  helpless  boat  and  the  force  of 
the  seas,  eight  more  men  would  have  been  sac 
rificed."  Then  turning  to  Phil  and  address 
ing  him  directly  :  "It  was  Mr.  Lazar's  high 
sense  of  duty  that  compelled  him  to  report 
your  disobedience.  What  have  you  to  say, 
sir?" 

Phil  was  silent.  The  captain  thrummed 
on  the  table,  as  if  impatient  for  an  answer. 
Lazar  fidgeted  uneasily  in  his  chair,  no  doubt 
wondering  what  defense  the  boy  would  ad 
vance. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say,  sir,"  began  Phil  in 
a  low  voice.  "  I  committed  a  grave  error,  sir. 
I  have  steered  life-boats  before,  but  the  sea 
was  greater  than  I  realized."  He  stopped  and 


42  A  UNITED  STATES 

glanced  up  in  embarrassment  at  the  captain. 
"  I  am  afraid,  sir,  I  would  do  the  same  again, 
sir." 

"  Well  spoken,  lad,"  cried  the  captain  de 
lightedly.  He  had  prepared  himself  for  an 
excuse,  so  this  straightforward  acknowledg 
ment  was  extremely  gratifying  to  the  blunt 
sailor. 

"  Bless  you,  boy,  you  gave  me  a  few  new 
white  hairs  as  I  watched  your  boat.  I  never 
thought  to  see  any  of  that  crew  again,  but  all's 
well  that  ends  well,  eh,  Lazar?"  he  asked, 
turning  suddenly  on  the  ensign. 

"  I  feel  I  have  done  my  duty,  sir;  the  ver 
dict  rests  with  you,"  answered  he,  in  a  strained 
voice,  in  which  Phil  thought  he  read  disap 
pointment. 

The  captain  became  grave,  apparently  noting 
the  attitude  of  the  claimant.  "  That  is  all, 
Mr.  Lazar,"  he  said  in  a  changed  voice. 
"  You  may  withdraw." 

As  the  door  closed  on  the  ensign,  the  cap 
tain's  face  again  assumed  a  kindly  expression. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  I  cannot  find  heart  to  punish 
you  for  this,"  he  spoke  earnestly.  "  You  were 
too  impulsive  and  it  might  have  turned  out 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  43 

disastrously,  nevertheless  it  became  you  well. 
You  have  shown  that  you  are  made  of  the 
right  stuff;  now  let  me  see  you  fashion  it  into 
the  officer  that  you  are  capable  of  becoming." 
Reaching  out  his  hand  he  took  up  Phil's 
sword,  and  as  he  returned  it  to  him,  said  : 

"  Remember,  obedience  is  your  first  duty." 

"  What  did  I  tell  you  ?  "  Sydney  cried,  shak 
ing  Phil's  hand  a  moment  later,  as  he  returned 
with  his  sword.  Then  in  an  anxious  voice : 
"  I  don't  like  Lazar's  attitude.  He  came  out 
of  the  cabin  a  minute  ago  looking  like  a  thun 
der-cloud.  He  apparently  was  not  pleased  at 
the  captain's  decision." 

"  He  may  dislike  me,"  Phil  answered  char 
itably,  as  they  entered  their  own  room,  "  but 
I  believe  so  far  he  has  treated  me  as  he  would 
have  any  of  us  midshipmen." 

The  life-boat  incident  raised  Phil  to  a  high 
place  in  the  opinions  of  most  officers  of  the 
ship,  and  the  men  were  all  devoted  to  him. 
He  was  their  favorite  midshipman  after  that. 

This  was  the  first  time  the  eight  big  battle 
ships  of  the  Atlantic  fleet  had  been  together 
since  their  winter  rendezvous  at  Guantanamo, 
Cuba,  and  good-natured  rivalry  between  the 


44  A  UNITED  STATES 

ships  in  tests  of  strength  and  physical  prowess 
of  their  crews  ran  high.  The  admiral  of  the 
fleet,  a  great  believer  in  encouraging  these  pas 
times,  had  given  orders  for  a  track  meet  to  be 
held  on  shore,  and  all  hands  turned  to  organ 
ize  their  forces  to  win  the  pennant  to  be 
given  to  the  ship  that  showed  herself  capable 
of  producing  the  cleverest  athletes. 

"  I  have  been  pressed  into  service  to  get  the 
entries  from  our  ship  for  the  meet,"  Marshall 
announced  at  the  mess-table  that  evening. 
"  It  is  to  take  place  next  Saturday.  We  need 
all  the  good  men  we  can  get.  We  certainly 
have  a  prize  in  Lazar ;  he  has  entered  for  all 
the  short  runs  up  to  the  440-yards.  He  held 
all  the  Annapolis  records  for  them  when  he 
was  there,  and  he  keeps  himself  in  fine  condi 
tion." 

Phil  had  brightened  up  at  the  prospects  for 
a  day  of  field  sports,  and  held  his  hand  out 
gladly  for  the  paper  to  put  down  his  name, 
but  when  Lazar's  name  passed  Marshall's  lips, 
his  face  clouded  and  he  withdrew  his  hand 
quickly. 

"  Syd,  you  should  do  something  in  the  jump 
ing  line,"  said  Phil  in  a  voice  of  feigned  indif- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  45 

ference.  "  I  shan't  enter  ;  I'm  not  in  form  for 
running." 

"  Are  you  crazy,  man  ? "  Sydney  cried. 
Then  turning  to  Marshall  :  "  He  made  a 
clean  sweep  last  year  of  the  short  runs  at  An 
napolis,  lowered  one  record  and  equaled  the 
others.  Don't  listen  to  him,  he  is  only 
modest ;  put  him  down  for  all  up  to  the  440." 

"  No,  no,"  cried  Phil  earnestly.  "  I'm  not 
going  to  enter,  so  that  ends  it." 

"  If  you  have  no  more  ship's  spirit  than 
that,  you  can  go  hang,"  replied  Marshall, 
much  nettled  at  Phil's  stubbornness. 

Sydney  allowed  his  name  to  be  written  on 
the  entry  sheet  for  several  events,  but  the 
sheet  went  back  to  Lieutenant-Commander 
Penfield,  the  executive  officer,  without  Phil's 
name  for  a  single  event. 

"What's  the  matter  with  you,  Phil?"  de 
manded  Sydney,  in  their  room  after  dinner. 
"  Why  should  you  refuse  when  you  know  you 
are  in  excellent  condition  and  could  win  the 
majority  of  your  races?  Is  it  because  Lazar 
has  entered  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you  must  know,"  he  replied  in  a 
tone  of  finality.  "  I'd  sooner  stay  away  and 


46  A  UNITED  STATES 

retain  my  peace  of  mind.  Our  relations  are 
strained  enough  already.  I  have  no  wish  to 
incur  his  further  enmity.  We  would  hotly 
contest  each  event,  and  if  I  won,  his  treatment 
of  me  would  not  be  improved." 

Sydney's  further  persuasions  fell  on  barren 
soil.  Phil  held  to  his  point  and  would  not  be 
moved. 

Great  preparations  were  being  made  for  the 
coming  struggle.  Enthusiasm  waxed  high  in 
the  fleet,  and  all  longed  for  the  day  to  arrive 
when  each  could  test  his  prowess. 

The  day  of  the  meet  finally  came ;  the  sun 
shone  from  a  cloudless  pure  sky  ;  the  cool  sea 
breeze  swept  over  the  athletic  grounds,  invig 
orating  the  hundreds  of  sailor  athletes  with 
its  salty  crispness.  This  was  an  event  new  in 
the  annals  of  the  navy,  and  had  aroused  in 
tense  interest,  so  when  the  lads  arrived  with 
their  party  of  contestants  from  the  "  Connecti 
cut,"  they  found  an  audience  had  collected 
from  the  surrounding  country.  The  grand 
stands,  erected  by  the  carpenters  of  the  ships 
of  the  fleet,  were  packed  to  overflowing,  while 
the  field,  which  had  been  turned  into  an  arena 
for  the  many  contests,  was  gay  with  the  uni- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  47 

formed  sailormen  who  had  come  to  cheer  their 
champions. 

On  a  bulletin-board  at  the  entrance  to  the 
grounds  the  lists  of  those  to  compete  in  the 
several  events  was  posted. 

So  much  pressure  had  been  brought  to  bear 
upon  Phil  that  he  had  finally  been  prevailed 
upon  to  enter  the  short  runs.  The  executive 
officer  and  even  the  captain  had  upbraided 
him  so  severely  for  what  they  thought  was 
his  lack  of  ship's  spirit,  that  he  had,  much 
against  his  inclinations,  allowed  his  name  to 
be  put  on  the  list  before  it  was  sent  to  the 
flag-ship. 

Our  two  boys  stopped  to  read  the  names  of 
the  competitors.  Many  of  those  entering  were 
strangers,  but  an  occasional  name  would  evoke 
a  remark  of  surprise  or  pleasure  from  one  or 
the  other  of  the  readers. 

Lazar's  name  was  in  but  one  list,  that  for 
the  100-yard  run,  and  Phil  wondered  whether 
the  latter  had  withdrawn  because  he  had  en 
tered.  The  next  minute  Marshall  came  rush 
ing  up  to  him. 

"  Lazar  is  running  only  in  the  lOO^ard.  I 
suppose  you  noticed  his  name  is  not  in  the 


48  A  UNITED  STATES 

others.  I  have  just  seen  him  and  he  seems 
confident  of  being  able  to  win  the  race.  Now, 
if  you  can  win  the  others  and  run  second  in 
this  short  dash,  we  shall  win  the  pennant 
hands  down." 

Phil  immediately  bristled. 

"  Did  he  say  I  might  run  second  ? "  he 
asked  quickly. 

Marshall  hesitated. 

"  You  know  what  I  mean,  Perry,"  he  an 
swered  knowingly  ;  "  after  your  other  races 
you  can  hardly  expect  to  beat  Lazar,  but  if 
you  try  for  second,  you  can  get  it.  Don't 
you  see  ?  " 

"Is  that  his  suggestion  ?"  Phil  asked,  his 
anger  rising. 

"  To  be  frank  with  }^ou,  yes,  it  is,"  confessed 
Marshall.  "  He  found  that  the  three  races 
were  being  run  too  close  together,  so  he 
scratched  in  the  others  and  thinks  he  is  sure 
for  the  shorter  run.  It's  all  perfectly  square." 

"  H'm,  maybe  so,"  Phil  answered  shortly, 
as  he  turned  toward  the  dressing-tent  to  be 
ready  for  the  first  race  in  which  he  was  entered. 

'"Second/  eh?"  he  soliloquized.  "I'll 
give  him  the  race  of  his  life  for  first." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  49 

The  races  were  run  amid  great  enthusiasm 
as  the  sailors  saw  the  possibility  for  the  win 
ner  gradually  narrow  down  until  the  coveted 
pennant  lay  between  but  two  ships,  the"  Con 
necticut  "  and  the  "  Minnesota." 

"  You  have  just  a  half  hour  to  rest  up  be 
fore  the  first  heat  of  the  big  race,"  said  Syd 
ney,  as  he  and  Phil  walked  toward  the  hospi 
tal  tent  after  the  440-yard  run. 

Phil  felt  the  strain  of  his  two  races.  He 
had  won  the  220-yards  by  a  narrow  margin, 
but  had  been  cleverly  outstripped  in  the  longer 
race  by  a  sailorman  from  the  "  Minnesota." 

Sydney  had  acquitted  himself  with  credit ; 
he  had  taken  second  place  in  two  of  the 
jumping  contests. 

"  You  seem  to  be  a  hot  favorite  for  the 
100-yards,  Mr.  Perry,"  said  the  doctor,  with 
a  smile  of  admiration  at  the  well-knit  figure 
before  him,  as  he  directed  his  nurses  to  rub 
the  strained  muscles  to  keep  them  in  shape 
for  the  final  contest.  "  I  hear  the  pennant 
lies  between  your  ship  and  the  '  Minnesota/  ' 

Marshall  came  into  the  tent,  and  unabashed 
at  the  rebuke  administered  by  Phil  earlier  in 
the  day,  began  his  argument  anew  : 


50  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  know  you  don't  like  Lazar  any  too 
well,"  he  said  in  an  undertone,  "  and  because 
he  suggested  this,  you  immediately  became 
angry,  but  let  me  show  you  a  perfectly  fair 
way  of  doing  it,  without  blocking  anybody. 
Say  Lazar  can  win,  then  leaving  yourself  out 
of  the  count,  some  one  will  run  second.  Now 
don't  try  to  catch  Lazar,  but  keep  ahead  of 
the  man  who  threatens  him  and  takes  second 
place.  If  you  overexert  yourself  to  pass 
Lazar  you  may  give  out  and  be  beaten  by 
two  or  three  men.  That  is  surely  fair  in  a 
contest  between  ships." 

"  But  suppose  I  feel  confident  I  can  beat 
Lazar  and  win,"  answered  Phil  dryly. 

"  That's  too  much  to  expect,  Perry,"  said 
he  earnestly.  "  After  running  as  you  have  it's 
only  natural  that  you  cannot  be  in  as  good 
condition  as  if  you  hadn't  run,  and  we  must 
take  both  first  and  second  place  in  this  last 
race  to  be  sure  of  beating  the  '  Minnesota.' 
She  leads  us  now  by  nearly  ten  points.  Can't 
you  do  this  for  your  ship  ?  " 

Phil  was  silent.  He  believed  the  proposi 
tion  as  far  as  Marshall  was  concerned  was 
prompted  solely  by  a  desire  to  see  his  ship 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  51 

win,  but  as  coming  from  Lazar  it  was  a  slur 
on  his  manliness.  The  latter  had  hinted  at 
blocking  off  the  fast  runners,  pocketing  them 
by  keeping  ahead  and  preventing  their  pass 
ing  him,  thus  insuring  a  win  for  Lazar  if  he 
succeeded  in  getting  off  quickly,  which  was 
his  greatest  asset;  he  was  the  quickest  starter 
Phil  had  ever  seen.  But  even  in  the  form 
outlined  by  Marshall,  although  it  might  not 
be  considered  unfair,  yet  it  was  unsportsman 
like  and  savored  of  jockeying. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  can't  see  it  your  way,  old 
man,"  he  answered  finally  in  not  an  unkind 
voice ;  then  the  indignation  he  felt  for  Lazar 
blazed  from  his  eyes. 

"  You  may  tell  Mr.  Lazar  I  shall  run  to 
win." 

"Bully  for  you,  Phil,"  cried  Sydney  de 
lightedly.  He  had  listened  intently  in 
silence,  and  was  afraid  he  might  be  influenced 
by  the  plausible  arguments  of  his  tempter. 
"  I'd  be  willing  to  have  the  ship  lose  to  see 
you  beat  him." 

The  preliminary  heats  were  run  amid  great 
enthusiasm. 

Lazar  and   Phil,   with  eight  others,  found 


52  A  UNITED  STATES 

themselves  at  the  starting  line  for  the  final 
test. 

Phil,  in  spite  of  the  tax  on  his  strength  in 
his  hard  fought  races,  never  felt  in  better 
trim.  The  earlier  races  assured  him  that  his 
muscles  had  not  deteriorated.  As  he  stood 
with  his  body  thrown  forward,  hands  on  the 
ground  in  front  of  him,  he  vibrated  like  a 
highly  tempered  spring.  Every  muscle  was 
held  in  the  leash,  ready  to  be  loosed  by  his 
will  at  the  discharge  of  the  pistol.  He  wished 
that  he  might  be  transformed  into  a  knight 
of  older  times,  horsed  and  about  to  "  enter  the 
lists "  with  his  antagonist.  How  he  would 
delight  to  see  Lazar's  pride  unhorsed  beneath 
his  charger's  feet. 

With  these  mad  thoughts  coursing  through 
his  brain  he  heard,  as  if  from  far  away,  the 
starter's  voice  : 

"  Are  you  ready  ?  " 

"  On  your  mark  !  " 

Then  a  pause,  followed  by  a  loud  report. 

As  if  shot  from  a  catapult,  the  lithe  figures 
darted  forward — breath  held  tightly,  every 
face  set  with  dogged  determination. 

Phil  saw  Lazar  dart  two  yards  ahead  of 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  53 

every  competitor.  It  was  an  enormous 
handicap  in  his  favor,  for  it  precluded  a 
chance  of  being  pocketed  either  by  accident 
or  design. 

Phil  strained  his  muscles  to  their  utmost 
in  an  endeavor  to  free  himself  from  the  mass 
of  threatening,  surging  runners.  If  each  ran 
inside  his  chalk  line  all  would  be  well,  but 
on  the  sandy  soil  marks  were  indistinct.  He 
held  his  breath  a  prisoner.  His  old  trainer 
at  Annapolis  had  taught  him  the  trick. 
"  A  full  breath  at  '  on  your  mark '  and  an 
other  thirty  yards  from  the  finish.  It's  all 
the  air  you  need,"  were  the  words  repeating 
themselves  in  his  mind.  His  exertions  were 
crowned  by  finding  himself  within  a  yard  of 
Lazar.  The  next  danger  thundered  three 
yards  behind  him. 

Swiftly  they  drew  toward  the  finish. 

Lazar,  running  in  his  chalked  lane,  edged 
over  inch  by  inch  until  he  was  directly  in 
Phil's  path.  The  man  behind  had  now  drawn 
up  so  close  to  Phil  that  he  could  feel  his 
hot  breath  in  his  ear.  He  knew  him  for  the 
little  sailor  who  had  beaten  him  in  the 
440-yard  run.  Phil  was  now  running  on 


54  A  UNITED  STATES 

the  left  edge  of  the  course.  The  runner 
behind  him  was  in  the  line  that  had  been 
Lazar's.  If  Phil  were  not  to  be  pocketed 
he  must  pass  Lazar  to  his  right  and  might 
thereby  interfere  with  and  perhaps  foul  the 
plucky  little  runner  from  the  "  Minnesota." 
Phil  knew  that  if  the  latter  ran  first  or 
second  the  pennant  would  go  to  the  sailor's 
ship.  In  all  its  hideousness  Lazar's  trick 
flashed  before  Phil's  eyes.  Lazar  would  make 
him  pocket  the  sailor  or  else  be  beaten  by 
both  men.  With  the  eye  of  a  runner  he 
judged  the  time  for  his  full  breath  and  final 
spurt  had  come. 

Slowly  he  drew  up  abreast  of  Lazar  ;  the 
third  man  was  close  at  his  elbow.  He  put 
forth  his  full  power.  To  himself  his  muscles 
felt  chained.  He  seemed  fairly  to  crawl  to 
ward  the  finish.  But  the  spectators  saw  him 
draw  surely  up  to  Lazar — then  forge  ahead. 
Phil  heard  a  pistol  shot,  and  gave  him 
self  into  the  grasp  of  a  group  of  sailormen. 
He  knew  none  of  them,  but  they  all  wore 
"  Connecticut  "  on  their  caps,  and  their  faces 
were  alight  with  pride  and  satisfaction. 

"  Well  done,  Mr.  Perry,"  they  shouted. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  55 

He  felt  himself  raised  on  a  mountain  of 
sturdy  shoulders  and  heard  the  triumphant 
shouts  of  victory. 

Then  his  eyes  fell  on  the  face  of  Lazar, 
likewise  honored  by  his  delighted  men. 
Amid  the  happy  faces  below  him  that  of 
the  older  officer  showed  only  anger  and  bitter 
mortification. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE   FACE    IN   THE   LOCKET 

SPORTS  of  whatever  nature  were  now  by  the 
order  of  the  admiral  relegated  to  the  past  and 
all  hands  turned  to  for  the  coming  target 
practice. 

With  the  Atlantic  fleet  the  days  were  now 
indeed  full  of  hard,  but  useful  work. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
squadron  would  daily  be  under  way.  Drill 
after  drill  followed  to  perfect  the  officers  in 
handling  the  unwieldy  monsters,  until  even 
the  ships  seemed  to  have  acquired  an  intel 
ligence  all  their  own. 

Phil,  standing  his  watch  duty  under  Lazar, 
spent  many  instructive  hours.  To  see  the 
eight  battle-ships  steaming  at  twelve-knots 
speed,  with  a  distance  between  the  bow  of  one 
and  the  stern  of  the  next  of  less  than  three 
ship  lengths,  was  a  sight  calculated  to  inspire 
a  feeling  of  wonder  and  admiration. 

56 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  57 

One  day  on  the  bridge,  while  the  squadron 
was  engaged  in  maneuvers,  the  real  danger 
of  this  apparently  simple  drill  was  forcibly 
demonstrated.  Phil,  telescope  in  hand,  was 
reading  the  fluttering  flags  hoisted  by  the 
flag-ship,  calling  out  the  numbers  to  Lazar, 
who  was  solving  their  meaning  in  the  signal 
book  he  held  in  his  hand. 

Suddenly  the  battle-ship  directly  ahead  in 
the  column  swung  herself  across  the  path  of 
their  ship.  Phil  saw  the  "  dispatch  flag,"  a 
signal  of  breakdown,  flying  at  her  main  mast 
head.  The  danger  of  a  collision  appeared  so 
suddenly  that  he  was  bound  to  the  spot.  He 
was  new  to  such  an  emergency.  Lazar's  eyes 
were  upon  the  ship  ahead.  His  attitude  was 
alert,  his  face  calm  and  his  manner  deliberate. 

"  Port,  hard  aport,"  he  ordered,  in  a  natural 
voice. 

The  heavily-shod  bow  of  their  ship  pointed 
fairly  amidships  of  the  ship  now  nearly  broad 
side  in  their  path. 

Slowly,  painfully  the  "  Connecticut's  "  bow, 
in  answer  to  her  helm,  moved  along  the 
length  of  the  exposed  and  all  but  helpless 
white  hull  ahead.  The  ships  drew  together 


58  A  UNITED  STATES 

with  such  rapidity  that  it  seemed  to  Phil  a 
collision  was  inevitable. 

Such  were  undoubtedly  the  thoughts  on 
board  the  ship  ahead.  The  shrill  screech  of 
her  syren  screamed  across  the  water — a  signal 
for  all  on  board  immediately  to  close  every 
door  and  scuttle  throughout  the  ship,  so  that 
in  the  event  of  a  collision  the  water  entering 
the  wounded  side  would  be  prevented  from 
spreading  throughout  the  ship  and  endanger 
ing  her  buoyancy. 

Lazar's  actions  showed  not  a  sign  of  inde 
cision.  He  appeared  as  cool  as  if  he  were 
performing  an  ordinary  maneuver  of  routine 
duty. 

The  "  Connecticut "  cleared  her  prostrated 
mate  and  swung  by  her  swiftly — so  close 
aboard  that  it  seemed  to  Phil  that  they  must 
have  touched,  then  she  followed  in  the  wake 
of  the  other  ships. 

The  boy  was  filled  with  admiration  for  the 
officer.  He  wondered  if  he  would  ever  be 
able  to  use  such  remarkable  judgment  and 
remain  as  tranquil. 

The  more  he  saw  of  the  older  man  the 
more  he  regretted  their  common  enmity.  As 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  59 

an  officer  he  could  not  but  command  his 
respect.  He  was  capable  and  self-possessed 
under  the  most  trying  circumstances,  and 
yet,  in  spite  of  this  enviable  talent,  he  lacked 
the  power  of  endearing  himself  to  those  under 
him.  There  was  hardly  a  sailor  on  the  ship 
who  liked  him.  As  a  rule  he  was  silent,  yet 
the  man  who  displeased  him  awakened  a 
tongue  so  bitter  that  its  sting  covered  the 
unfortunate  one  with  shame  and  confusion. 
Those  of  his  own  mess  admired  him  for  his 
seamanlike  ability,  but  despised  him  for  his 
cynical  and  abusive  disposition.  He  con 
fided  in  no  one,  was  friendly  with  none. 

With  such  a  personality  Phil  found  him 
self  closely  associated,  both  in  his  duty  on 
deck  and  also  in  the  turret,  where  hard  work 
was  their  daily  portion.  Lazar  was  ambitious, 
and  he  spared  neither  his  men  nor  himself  in 
building  up  such  efficiency  that  the  turret  he 
commanded  could  not  be  outstripped  in  its 
record  by  any  other  of  its  class. 

Phil  had  no  real  grounds  for  complaint. 
Lazar's  biting  cynicisms  hurt  his  pride,  but 
only  spurred  him  on  to  further  efforts  to  per 
fect  himself  in  his  duties. 


60  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Come  out  with  us,  Phil,"  cried  Sydney, 
the  day  before  target  practice,  to  his  room 
mate,  hard  at  work  over  some  knotty  prob 
lem.  "  You  take  things  too  seriously.  Let 
it  alone  for  awhile.  We  are  going  for  a  row 
in  the  dinghy,  to  the  beach,  and  have  a  swim. 
Marshall,  Morrison  and  Hill  are  going.  You 
will  just  make  a  crew." 

Phil's  face  brightened  at  the  prospect,  but 
remembering  his  work,  he  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  I  must  work  this  out  first.  It's  very 
irritating.  I  know  there  must  be  a  way,  but 
I  can't  see  how  to  do  it." 

"  You  are  working  entirely  too  hard,"  re 
plied  Sydney,  earnestly.  "  It  isn't  worth  it. 
What  credit  does  Lazar  give  you  ?  He  never 
has  a  word  to  say  unless  it's  to  correct  a  mis 
take  in  his  sarcastic  voice.  It  makes  me  angry 
to  see  you  slave  for  him.  Come  out  with  us 
and  harden  up  your  muscles." 

But  Phil  could  not  be  moved.  His  interest 
had  been  aroused  in  this  work  and  he  would 
master  it  before  he  gave  in. 

"  After  all,"  he  thought,  when  the  pleasure 
seekers  had  gone,  "  what  do  I  care  for  Lazar's 
praise.  He  has  taught  me  to  curb  my  tern- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  61 

per  and  I  have  worked  harder  than  I  thought 
myself  capable  in  order  to  be  free  from  his 
faultfinding  tongue." 

The  problem  was  only  one  of  many  Phil 
had  fought  out  alone,  and  he  finally  saw  the 
solution.  Putting  his  drawings  aside,  he  went 
up  into  the  turret  to  test  his  ideas  practically. 

"  Boyd,"  he  shouted  as  he  reached  the  gun 
platform. 

"  Here,  sir,"  answered  a  slim,  active  looking 
sailorman,  the  gunner's  mate  of  the  turret, 
emerging  from  under  the  guns,  a  number  of 
tools  in  his  begrimed  fingers. 

"  Get  O'Neil  and  come  down  below  in  the 
handling  room.  I  have  a  scheme  I  want  to 
try." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  Boyd  with  alacrity, 
putting  his  wrenches  in  the  tool-racks.  "  I'll 
get  him  and  join  you  in  a  second,  sir." 

He  disappeared  through  the  smoke  hatch  to 
the  top  of  the  turret. 

Phil  glanced  about  him.  The  objects  which 
to  him  three  weeks  ago  seemed  so  confusing 
were  now  wonderfully  simple  :  the  guns  in 
their  massive  steel  carriages,  the  weighty 
cylinders  with  their  internal  pistons  and 


62  A  UNITED  STATES 

springs  to  check  the  force  of  the  recoil  when 
the  guns  are  fired  and  send  them  back  again 
to  their  normal  position  without  undue  jar  to 
the  structure  of  the  ship.  Here  were  the 
electric  ammunition  hoists,  reeling  a  stout  wire 
about  a  metal  drum  and  this  bringing  up  the 
heavy  ammunition  car  with  its  burden  of  shell 
and  powder  from  the  handling  room  fifty  feet 
below,  and  placing  the  charge  directly  in  front 
of  the  open  breech  of  the  guns,  to  be  driven 
home  by  the  swiftly  moving  electric  rammers. 
Phil  saw  below  him  the  twin  motors  which 
turned  the  massive  turret  at  the  will  of  man. 
All  these,  to  their  minutest  detail,  were  clear 
to  him.  Did  other  midshipmen  master  as 
much  in  so  short  a  time  ?  Was  it  not  an  ad 
vantage  to  serve  under  a  man  who  could  in 
spire  such  a  desire  to  learn,  even  though  the 
craving  for  knowledge  was  aroused  by  a  de 
termination  to  be  free  from  his  sarcastic 
taunts  ? 

Standing  thus  deep  in  thought,  the  stillness 
in  the  turret  was  broken  by  a  sound  from  be 
low.  It  was  faint  but  distinct.  He  listened 
with  held  breath.  It  seemed  to  be  caused  by 
a  file  against  a  metal  surface.  He  could  see 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  63 

nothing.  The  heavy  iron  shutters,  built  to 
protect  the  crew  of  the  handling  room  from 
accidents  in  the  turret,  were  shut  tightly. 

The  sound  continued,  seemingly  becoming 
louder.  Then  it  ceased  and  a  metal  object 
rattled  on  the  deck  below.  It  was  so  clear  and 
distinct  that  he  thought  it  must  be  caused  by 
Boyd  in  the  handling  room.  Doubtlessly  he 
was  already  there  awaiting  him. 

"  Boyd,"  he  raised  his  voice  in  order  to  be 
heard  beyond  the  shutters. 

No  answer. 

He  called  again  louder.  The  sound  of  foot 
steps  came  to  his  ears  from  the  handling  room. 
What  could  it  mean?  By  Lazar's  orders  no 
work  was  to  be  done  in  the  turret  or  handling 
room  by  anyone  save  Boyd,  and  he  had  just 
gone  up  the  hatch,  and  if  he  were  below  he 
would  have  answered  his  call. 

Phil  swung  himself  down  the  ladder,  through 
the  scuttle  in  the  turret  platform,  then  down 
a  second  ladder,  and  found  himself  in  darkness 
on  the  floor  of  the  handling  room. 

All  was  silence. 

Presently  he  heard  his  name  called  from 
above  in  the  voice  of  Boyd.  What  could  it 


64  A  UNITED  STATES 

mean  ?  Some  one  had  been  there  but  a  second 
ago  and  what  had  he  been  doing? 

"  Turn  the  light  on  down  here,"  he  called 
back.  His  heart  beat  wildly. 

The  electric  lights  flashed  as  the  switch  was 
turned  from  above. 

The  handling  room  was  empty. 

A  glint  from  a  small  bright  object  caught 
his  eye  in  the  shadow  of  an  ammunition  car. 
He  stooped  down  and  picked  up  a  gold  locket. 
Could  it  be  a  clew  to  the  mystery  ?  The 
thing  was  harmless  enough  in  itself. 

O'Neil  and  Boyd  quickly  joined  him. 

"  Have  you  been  doing  any  repair  work 
here  ?  "  he  asked  the  gunner's  mate. 

"No,  sir,  everything  is  right  here,  barring 
that  shell  car  you  were  figuring  on,"  answered 
he  promptly. 

Phil  held  the  locket  in  his  open  palm. 

"  Ask  the  men  of  the  division  if  any  of 
them  lost  a  locket,"  he  spoke  carelessly.  "  If 
one  claims  it  send  him  to  me,"  he  added, 
dropping  the  trinket  in  his  pocket. 

His  experiments  successfully  over,  he  care 
fully  surveyed  the  different  familiar  objects 
about  him.  All  seemed  normal. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  65 

"  The  noises  must  have  come  from  the  shaft 
alleys  or  engine  room,"  he  said  softly  to  him 
self. 

"  Did  you  speak,  sir?  "  inquired  O'Neil,  hear 
ing  his  low  voice. 

Phil  glanced  up  with  the  intention  of  con 
fiding  in  his  petty  officer,  then  changed  his 
mind. 

"  No,  I  was  only  thinking,"  he  replied. 

Arriving  in  his  room  he  tried  to  dismiss  the 
incident  from  his  mind.  He  still  held  the 
locket  in  his  hand. 

"  One  of  the  men  dropped  it  during  drill," 
he  assured  himself.  But  instinctively  his 
eyes  traveled  back  to  the  locket  as  if  it  were  a 
talisman.  A  feeling  took  possession  of  him 
that  if  he  opened  the  locket  the  clew  would 
be  inside.  But  he  controlled  this  feeling.  It 
would  not  be  honorable  to  open  it. 

He  regretted  that  Lazar  was  away — on  board 
the  "  Minnesota,"  umpiring  her  target  prac 
tice.  If  he  were  here  he  would  tell  him  of 
his  fears  ;  then  he  could  do  as  he  thought  best. 

"  I  believe  Syd  is  right,"  he  said  half  aloud  ; 
"  this  close  application  to  work  has  gotten  on 
my  nerves.  I  take  things  too  seriously.  I 


66  A  UNITED  STATES 

hear  a  noise  in  the  turret,  and  the  ship  being 
a  regular  sounding-board,  it  may  have  come 
from  anywhere.  Then  why  should  I  take  for 
granted  it  came  from  the  handling  room  ? 
And  then  I  find  a  small  gold  locket  which  I 
at  once  take  as  a  sure  sign  that  I  am  right  in 
my  conjecture."  Then  his  thoughts  became 
more  serious.  "  But  if  it  was  in  the  handling 
room,  it  shows  that  some  one  was  there  who 
had  no  business  there,  because  when  I  called 
he  did  not  answer.  Could  any  one  wish 
to  injure  the  turret  gear?  Had  Lazar  an 
enemy?  " 

For  hours  that  night  he  lay  awake  revolv 
ing  in  his  mind  all  the  possible  phases  of  the 
incident  and  at  last  dropped  into  a  troubled 
sleep. 

Awakening  the  next  morning  he  was  in  a 
state  of  mental  depression.  An  overpowering 
desire  to  open  the  locket  came  to  him  which 
he  could  not  refuse.  He  took  it  out  of  his 
bureau  drawer  and  forced  the  tiny  thing  open. 
A  girl's  face  looked  out  at  him.  He  studied 
it  carefully,  then  closed  the  locket  and  threw 
it  back  into  the  drawer  with  a  gesture  of  dis 
appointment. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  67 

"  I  wonder  what  I  expected  to  find  there," 
he  said  with  a  sarcastic  smile.  "  My  nerves 
are  in  about  the  same  condition  as  those  of  a 
man  before  his  first  battle.  I  shall  certainly 
be  happy  when  it's  over." 

"  Mr.  Lazar  is  in  the  turret,  sir,"  announced 
O'Neil,  putting  his  head  in  the  midshipman's 
mess  room,  while  Phil  was  eating  his  break 
fast,  "  and  he'd  like  to  see  you." 

"  We  are  to  fire  as  soon  as  the  umpires  ar 
rive,  Mr.  Perry,"  Lazar  informed  him  as  the 
midshipman  crawled  down  through  the  scuttle 
and  stood  by  his  side  between  the  two  big 
guns. 

Phil  wavered  in  his  inclination  to  inform 
his  division  officer  of  the  incident  of  the  day 
before. 

"  The  umpires  are  here,  sir,  and  the  captain 
says  you  will  fire  first.  Let  him  know  when 
you  are  ready  to  go  on  the  range,"  reported 
the  orderly,  from  the  turret  top. 

Phil  found  himself  at  his  station  in  the 
handling  room.  The  mystery  was  still  a 
secret. 

All  thoughts  of  the  affair  were  quickly  for 
gotten.  His  mind  was  now  on  the  work  of 


68  A  UNITED  STATES 

supplying  ammunition  from  the  magazine8 
and  shell  rooms  as  fast  as  the  two  metal  tubes 
above  could  hurl  it  at  the  target. 

The  shell  rooms  were  opened  and  the  big 
shells  were  brought  out  on  the  overhead  tracks 
ready  to  be  placed  on  the  ammunition  cars, 
then  to  be  hoisted  to  the  turret  fifty  feet  above. 
The  magazine  doors  were  closed,  but  the 
hinged  metal  flaps  were  undogged  and  men 
stood  ready  to  enter  the  powder  magazines 
and  pass  the  charges  of  powder  through  these 
fire-proof  flaps  to  those  in  the  handling  room, 
then  to  be  placed  with  the  shell  on  the  car. 

Standing  surrounded  by  his  twenty-four 
men,  Phil  waited  the  order  from  Lazar  to  load 
the  cars. 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  Lazar's  voice  came  down  the 
flexible  speaking-tube. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  Phil  answered  back. 

"  Are  you  ready?  " 

"  All  ready,  sir,"  shouted  Phil. 

"  Load  ! " 

The  cars  were  loaded  and  raised,  and  a  sec 
ond  shell  for  each  was  brought  out,  ready  to 
be  put  on  the  cars  as  soon  as  they  came  back. 

"  They  are  off,"  Phil  shouted  excitedly,  as 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  69 

both  cars  were  hoisted  with  terrific  speed  up 
the  curved  steel  rails  ;  the  shutters  between  the 
turret  and  handling  room  opened  obediently 
to  allow  the  cars  to  pass  ;  a  glimpse  of  half- 
naked  men  above  them  came  into  view,  then 
they  fell  shut  with  a  bang,  shutting  out  the 
scene. 

A  dull  crash  from  above  told  those  in  the 
handling  room  that  the  first  gun  had  been 
fired. 

An  empty  ammunition  car  came  down 
through  the  shutter,  was  quickly  supplied 
with  its  shell  and  powder  and  again  disap 
peared  upward  through  the  magic  shutter. 

The  firing  above  was  rapid.  The  empty 
cars  appeared  so  frequently  that  the  men  be 
low  were  hard  pressed  to  prevent  the  crews 
above  from  waiting  for  their  ammunition. 

"  That's  the  fastest  firing  I  have  ever  seen," 
cried  one  of  the  men  in  admiration,  as  he 
hurled  a  fifty  pound  powder  bag  accurately  on 
to  its  shelf  in  the  car  ;  "  they  ain't  nothing  in 
the  fleet  can  touch  this." 

"  Hold  on  there  !  " 

Phil  saw  with  consternation  the  car  start  up 
prematurely  with  but  one  bag  of  powder, 


70  A  UNITED  STATES 

where  four  were  necessary  for  a  charge.  It 
would  have  to  go  clear  to  the  turret  and  then 
come  down  again  for  the  other  three  bags,  a 
loss  of  much  precious  time. 

As  if  he  thought  he  might  call  the  impa 
tient  car  back,  he  watched  it  gather  speed  to 
open  the  shutter.  He  saw  it  disappear  and 
the  shutter  close  behind  it  with  a  rasping 
noise.  Then  came  a  crash  as  of  a  heavy  fall 
ing  body,  from  above.  The  din  of  tearing 
metal  filled  his  ears. 

"  Stand  clear,  men,"  he  had  barely  time  to 
shout,  when  the  loaded  car,  shutter  and  all, 
shot  down  into  their  midst,  a  hopeless  mass 
of  twisted  metal. 


CHAPTER  V 

HURKIED   ORDERS 

THE  accident  came  so  unexpectedly  that  it 
was  some  moments  before  Phil  could  find  his 
voice.  Then  he  realized  there  was  nothing  to 
be  done.  The  damage  was  beyond  his  capacity 
to  repair.  The  turret  was  useless  for  further 
service. 

He  glanced,  apprehensively,  upward  through 
the  jagged  rent  of  the  shutter  and  his  eyes  fell 
upon  the  angry,  excited  face  of  his  divisional 
officer. 

There  was  small  reason  to  ask  the  trouble. 
The  dangling  end  of  the  wire  rope  told  the 
story  only  too  plainly  :  the  hoist  rope  had 
broken  when  the  ammunition  car  was  nearly 
at  the  breech  of  the  gun,  and  it  had  then 
plunged  downward,  with  its  burden  of  nearly 
a  ton  of  shell  and  powder,  wrecking  itself  and 
the  shutter. 

A  moment  later  Lazar  was  in  the  handling 
71 


72  A  UNITED  STATES 

room,  viewing  the  effects  of  the  unlucky  acci 
dent. 

Stooping  down  he  raised  the  car  end  of  the 
wire  rope. 

"  Cut  half  through,"  he  cried  in  a  voice 
full  of  passion,  "  and  by  a  file  or  saw."  His 
disappointment  was  too  keen  to  conceal. 

"  All  my  work  for  nothing.  The  umpires 
will  decide  the  accident  against  me,  and  only 
half  the  firing  over." 

Phil  felt  sorry  for  the  older  man.  He 
would  willingly  take  the  blame  on  himself, 
if  that  could  have  helped  matters. 

These  charitable  thoughts  were  however 
quickly  stifled  by  the  humiliating  words  of 
his  superior  officer. 

"  This  looks  like  your  work,"  he  hissed  in 
Phil's  ear.  "  I  have  no  way  to  prove  it,  but 
it  looks  very  black  for  you." 

"  I,  sir  !  "  he  gasped.  Then  the  thought  of 
the  locket  and  his  secret  came  to  him.  He 
stopped  vexed  and  mortified. 

It  did  look  black,  indeed. 

Lazar  gave  him  a  swift  glance  of  triumph 
as  he  turned  away. 

Phil  directed  the  work  of  clearing  away 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  73 

the  wreck  and  as  soon  as  the  ship's  machinists 
had  commenced  on  the  repairs,  he  hunted  up 
his  friend  to  make  a  clean  breast  to  him  of 
the  secret  which  had  grown  in  a  night  from  a 
mole-hill  to  the  size  of  a  mountain. 

He  found  Sydney  in  his  room,  washing  the 
evidence  of  target  practice  from  his  face  and 
hands. 

"  I  made  a  fine  score,"  Sydney  cried  joy 
ously,  without  looking  up,  as  Phil  entered 
their  small  stateroom.  "  What  on  earth  hap 
pened  ?  Your  turret  started  out  finely  ; 
every  shot  hit  the  target,  then  suddenly 
you  stopped  shooting." 

"  Everything  happened,"  answered  Phil, 
sadly.  "  The  ammunition  hoist  broke  and 
Lazar  thinks  it's  my  work,  and  the  only  way 
I  can  clear  myself  is  to  get  myself  further 
implicated." 

"  Well,  that  certainly  is  Irish,"  laughed 
Sydney  heartily  ;  then  a  view  of  his  friend's 
face  cut  short  his  mirth,  for  he  saw  that  it 
was  serious. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Phil,"  he  added 
soberly,  "  but  your  words  were  droll.  Tell 
me  about  it?  " 


74  A  UNITED  STATES 

Phil  unburdened  himself  to  his  room 
mate  ;  telling  of  the  noise  that  he  had  heard 
in  the  handling  room  the  day  before ;  of  his 
suspicions,  and  of  the  fatal  mistake  he  had 
made  in  not  confiding  in  Lazar  before  the 
firing  commenced  ;  then  of  the  accident  and 
Lazar's  accusations. 

"  But  why  should  he  accuse  you? "  Sydney 
asked  aghast. 

"  I  don't  know,  but  he  has,"  Phil  answered, 
"  and  I  was  struck  dumb.  I  can't  explain 
to  him  now.  It  would  only  make  things 
worse." 

Sydney  thought  deeply. 

"  Phil,  the  idea  is  preposterous,"  he  said 
decidedly  ;  "  he  certainly  has  better  sense  than 
to  accuse  you  openly  of  this." 

"  That's  the  worst  of  it,"  Phil  answered 
sorrowfully  ;  "  all  he  need  do  is  to  cast  a 
suspicion  on  me  and  then  I  must  endeavor  to 
clear  myself  of  the  suspicion,  and  I  can't. 
If  I  tell  what  I  have  told  you,  those  who  are 
ready  to  believe  I  am  capable  of  doing  such  a 
cowardly  act  to  spite  Lazar,  will  see  all  the 
more  proof  that  I  am  guilty." 

"  It  surely  is  complicated,"  Sydney  replied . 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  75 

Phil  opened  his  desk  drawer  and  picked 
up  the  locket,  holding  it  out  to  Sydney. 

"  This  is  what  I  found  in  the  handling 
room.  There's  a  girl's  picture  inside.  It 
doesn't  belong  to  any  of  the  turret's  crew,  at 
least  none  have  claimed  it." 

"  This  was  dropped  by  the  man  who  cut 
the  wire,"  Sydney  mused  aloud,  "  and  this 
face  may  help  us  find  him." 

"You  are  so  mysterious,  Syd,"  cried  Phil 
impatiently  ;  "  how  can  that  girl's  face  help 
us  ?  There  is  probably  no  likeness  between 
it  and  the  culprit.  It's  the  face  of  his  sweet 
heart,  undoubtedly." 

"  Yes,  but  the  fact  that  her  face  is  here  will 
cause  him  to  try  to  regain  it,"  Sydney  an 
swered  assuredly. 

"  Do  you  believe  that  Lazar  would  recog 
nize  the  face  in  the  locket?  "  Phil  questioned. 
"  I  might  show  it  to  him  without  telling  him 
of  the  noise  I  heard  before  finding  it." 

"  That's  what  I  was  about  to  suggest," 
replied  Sydney ;  "  the  man  who  did  the  act 
is  an  enemy  of  Lazar's ;  he  may  recognize 
the  girl." 

Phil  immediately  sought  Lazar. 


76  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Come  in."  Lazar's  voice  answered  the 
knock  on  his  stateroom  door. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it?"  he  said  discourteously, 
without  rising.  "  Well,  what  do  you  want 
here?" 

Phil  was  confounded. 

"  I  have  a  locket  here  which  I  found  in  the 
handling  room  yesterday  while  I  was  working 
on  the  cars,"  he  began  hesitatingly. 

Lazar  took  the  locket  in  his  hand,  then 
glanced  up  at  the  face  of  the  speaker. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  inquired  coldly. 

"  There's  a  face  inside,"  Phil  stammered. 
"  I  thought  you  might  know  the  owner  in 
that  way." 

Lazar  opened  the  locket,  and  if  Phil  had 
not  been  so  much  occupied  nursing  his  in 
jured  dignity,  he  might  have  seen  a  flash 
of  recognition  in  Lazar's  face.  However, 
when  he  looked  up  it  had  passed  away 
and  a  look  of  boredom  had  taken  its 
place. 

"  No,  I  don't  know  her,"  he  answered 
shortly,  handing  Phil  the  locket.  "  Is  that 
all?" 

"That's  all,  sir." 


1X7 K  L L?"  HE  INQ UIRED, 
yy     COLDLY 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  77 

Phil  withdrew  in  some  confusion,  anger  and 
mortification  struggling  within  him. 

"  I  am  a  child  in  that  man's  hands,"  he 
cried,  as  he  reentered  his  own  room. 
"  Syd,  he  awakes  in  me  all  the  instincts  of 
a  brute.  I  can  hardly  keep  my  hands  off 
him." 

"  Don't  let  any  one  on  board  hear  you 
express  such  sentiments,"  Sydney  continued 
gravely.  "  You  must  guard  your  tongue  if 
you  are  to  fight  him  successfully." 

At  evening  "  quarters  "  Phil  saw  Lazar  in 
conversation  with  Captain  Taylor,  on  the 
quarter-deck. 

As  he  passed  them  he  overheard,  from 
Lazar's  lips,  words  that  made  his  face  flush 
with  anger. 

"I  feel  I  can  never  trust  him  again,  sir; 
his  work  has  been  very  unsatisfactory  from 
the  beginning.  I  desire  to  have  him  relieved." 

"  So  that  is  the  reward  for  my  hard  work," 
thought  Phil,  despairingly. 

After  quarters  he  hesitated  whether  to  go 
and  tell  the  captain  all  the  circumstances  and 
endeavor  to  save  his  good  namer  or  let  mat 
ters  take  their  course.  He  felt  that  Lazar  did 


78  A  UNITED  STATES 

not  believe  that  he  was  the  cause  of  the  dam 
age,  he  only  used  it  as  a  weapon  against  him. 
But  how  would  the  captain  act?  Would  he 
demand  an  explanation  ? 

These  reflections  were  cut  short  by  an 
orderly  at  his  elbow. 

"  Mr.  Penfield  wishes  to  see  you,  sir,"  an 
nounced  he. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  the  captain  has  directed  your 
assignment  in  his  office,"  the  executive  officer 
explained,  as  Phil  saluted  him  a  moment 
later.  "  Your  duty  in  the  turret  will  be  taken 
by  Mr.  Marshall." 

Phil  saluted  and  turned  away.  What  did 
it  mean  ?  The  captain  surely  did  not  believe 
him  guilty  of  the  act  he  was  accused  of  by 
Lazar,  else  he  would  not  place  him  in  such  a 
responsible  position.  He  felt  he  had  been 
removed  from  the  turret  under  a  cloud,  yet 
his  promotion  to  the  office  as  secretary  and 
assistant  to  his  commanding  officer  took  out 
most  of  the  sting. 

"  Phil,  you  can  dismiss  it  from  your  mind," 
Sydney  told  him  after  he  had  given  him  the 
good  news.  "  Lazar  has  played  his  trump 
card,  but  he  has  not  moved  the  captain.  He 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  79 

likes  you,  and  of  those  we  like  it  is  hard  to 
believe  evil." 

Phil's  face  beamed  with  pleasure. 

"  Syd,  I  count  myself,  indeed,  fortunate  to 
have  two  such  friends,  you  and  Captain 
Taylor,"  he  answered,  lowering  his  voice  to 
hide  his  feelings. 

In  two  days  more  target  practice  was  ended 
and  the  fleet  once  again  anchored  at  its  base 
under  the  protecting  wing  of  Cape  Cod. 

Phil's  new  duties  kept  his  mind  from 
brooding  over  his  troubles  with  Lazar  and 
opened  up  to  him  a  new  side  of  ship  life. 

All  official  papers  now  passed  through  his 
hands  and  the  lad  found  himself  in  very  inti 
mate  relations  with  his  revered  captain. 

It  seemed  to  him,  sometimes,  that  there 
were  some  of  his  shipmates  who  were  less 
friendly. 

"  It  may  be  my  imagination,"  he  thought. 
"  I  have  not  been  entirely  honest  and  my 
conscience  feels  guilty  for  concealing  my 
secret." 

In  the  midst  of  these  thoughts,  the  wireless 
operator  brought  him  a  message,  just  received 
from  the  flag-ship. 


8o  A  UNITED  STATES 

He  glanced  casually  at  the  bit  of  pink  pa 
per,  then  his  eyes  opened  wide  with  excite 
ment  as  he  read  the  words  of  the  message. 

"  Prepare  your  ship  immediately  for  sea. 
Destination  La  Boca,  Verazala,  South  America. 
Revolution  in  progress.  Your  confidential 
orders  are  being  prepared  and  will  be  sent  over 
directly." 

Hastily  entering  the  cabin,  he  placed  the 
message  in  his  chief's  hand. 

The  captain  read  slowly,  and  then  rang  the 
bell  for  his  orderly. 

"Show  this  to  Mr.  Penfield,"  he  said 
quietly.  "  Tell  him  to  make  all  arrangements. 
We  shall  sail  inside  of  four  hours." 

Phil  marveled  at  the  cool  manner  in  which 
the  captain  had  received  these  sudden  orders. 

After  forty  years'  service,  he  would  under 
stand  that  such  orders  as  these  were  too  fre 
quent  in  the  course  of  a  navy  man's  life  to 
cause  more  than  passing  surprise.  Captain 
Taylor  had  received  orders  as  suddenly  to  go 
around  the  world.  Why  should  he  show  sur 
prise  at  a  small  matter  of  a  couple  of  thousand 
miles. 

Phil  took  an  important  part  in  the  prepara- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  81 

tions  for  carrying  out  these  sudden  orders. 
Inside  the  allotted  time  all  was  ready.  The 
written  orders  and  instructions  were  sealed  in 
the  captain's  desk,  ready  to  be  opened  and 
studied  at  leisure  on  the  way  south. 

While  the  "  Connecticut  "  steamed  past  her 
seven  mates,  the  marines  and  band  were 
drawn  up  on  each  to  salute  her  as  she  sailed 
by,  officers  and  men  waving  good-byes  to 
friends.  Phil's  pulse  beat  faster. 

"  This  is  a  great  life,  Syd,"  he  cried  joyously 
to  his  companion  standing  by  him  on  the 
quarter-deck.  "  Who  of  us  thought  ten  hours 
ago  that  this  evening  would  see  us  bound  for 
South  America." 

The  next  morning  Captain  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Penfield  sat  at  the  cabin  table,  reading  and 
discussing  the  import  of  the  lengthy  written 
instructions  from  the  Navy  Department  and 
admiral. 

Phil  stood  by,  pencil  and  paper  in  hand, 
ready  to  write  down  the  plan  these  experienced 
officers  were  about  to  draw  up. 

Each  of  the  high-ranking  officers  read  the 
letters  carefully,  weighing  every  word.  Then 
Mr.  Penfield  waited  for  his  superior  to  speak. 


82  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  This  promises  to  be  a  very  delicate  busi 
ness,  Penfield,"  the  captain  commenced. 
"  The  insurgents  are  said  not  to  be  very  strong 
at  present,  but  it  seems  they  are  receiving  arms 
from  the  United  States,  which  has  greatly  em 
barrassed  our  relations  with  the  government 
of  the  republic.  Official  telegrams  from  the 
minister,  our  representative,  report  the  insur 
gents  a  lawless  band  led  by  an  outlaw  called 
Ruiz.  The  minister  fears  if  the  city  should 
be  captured  much  valuable  foreign  and  Amer 
ican  property  will  be  destroyed  by  the  rebels, 
who  cannot  control  their  soldiers.  This  state 
of  affairs  may  involve  our  country  seriously. 
In  upholding  the  Monroe  Doctrine  it  will 
insist  on  a  policy  of  non-interference  by 
foreign  governments,  but  where  neutral  prop 
erty  is  destroyed,  due  to  the  weakness  of  the 
government  of  Verazala  to  control  these  inter 
nal  disorders,  restitution  to  the  injured  must 
be  guaranteed  by  our  government." 

"  I  can  read  in  the  tone  of  the  letter,"  said 
Mr.  Penfield,  speaking  slowly  and  deliberately, 
"  a  purpose  to  uphold  the  government  through 
this  rebellion." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Captain  Taylor,  "  our  pol- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  83 

icy  has  always  been,  in  dealing  with  these  re 
bellions,  to  uphold  the  government.  If  the 
rebels  win  the  upheaval  is  very  disastrous  to 
our  moneyed  interests  and  harmful  to  our 
friendly  relations  with  the  citizens  of  the  re 
public.  Our  country  believes,  and  justly,  that 
it  is  a  crime  to  change  the  government  through 
bloodshed,  and  has  ever  counseled  the  honest 
use  of  the  ballot-box  to  obtain  the  most  popu 
lar  candidate  for  president.  But,  as  this  sys 
tem  of  suffrage  does  not  appeal  to  the  people 
here,  who  place  the  military  before  all  else,  it 
is  our  duty  to  do  what  is  in  our  power  to  as 
sure  the  defeat  of  this  rascal  Ruiz ;  but  we 
must  do  it  so  cleverly  that  the  insurgents  will 
never  know  that  our  government  was  un 
friendly  to  them." 

"  Then  what  is  your  plan,  sir?  "  asked  Mr. 
Penfield,  much  mystified. 

"  Our  government,"  answered  the  captain, 
decidedly,  "  having  taken  the  side  of  the  pres 
ent  government  of  the  republic,  it  is  our  pur 
pose  to  see  that  the  rebels  receive  no  aid  from 
the  outside  world." 

"  You  do  not  mean  that  we  shall  actually 
aid  the  government?"  asked  Mr.  Penfield. 


84  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Our  letter  there,"  pointing  to  the  mass  of 
correspondence  on  the  table,  "  enjoins  the 
strictest  neutrality." 

The  captain  laughed. 

"  No,"  he  answered,  "  not  aid  them  openly, 
but  shut  our  eye  to  what  they  do,  and  seek 
diligently  for  this  leak  by  which  the  rebels 
are  receiving  arms  from  our  country." 

"  What  is  it,  Mr.  Perry  ?  "  the  captain  added, 
surprising  a  look  on  the  lad's  face  that  told  he 
had  a  question  he  would  gladly  ask. 

"  I'd  like  to  volunteer  to  find  out  from 
where  the  arms  come,  sir,"  he  replied  eagerly. 

"That  you  will,"  agreed  the  captain,  smil 
ing  at  the  enthusiastic  boy.  "I  shall  depend 
upon  you  young  men  to  ferret  this  out  and 
stop  up  the  hole  through  which  this  aid 
comes." 

Phil's  hand  trembled  with  excitement  as  it 
took  down  the  plan  devised  by  the  captain 
and  his  executive  officer.  It  included  a 
guard  for  the  legations,  the  home  of  the  min 
ister,  and  all  foreign  property  of  value.  Lazar, 
on  account  of  his  linguistic  attainments,  was 
to  have  charge,  and  Marshall  and  Morrison 
were  to  be  his  assistants.  Phil  was  to  have 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  85 

the  "  Vidette,"  a  large  sixty  foot  steamer,  at 
his  disposal,  and  Sydney  was  to  accompany 
him. 

Bristling  with  his  important  news,  he  found 
his  roommate  in  their  room,  hard  at  work 
brushing  up  his  Spanish. 

"  Good  work,  Syd,"  Phil  cried,  glancing  at 
the  book  in  Sydney's  hand  ;  "  we  are  both  go 
ing  to  have  lots  of  practice  with  that  tongue ; " 
and  then  he  recited  to  him  the  news. 

Sydney  was  delighted  and  showed  it  by 
pounding  his  roommate  over  the  back  with 
his  book  ;  then  he  flung  it  on  the  bunk  and 
opened  a  drawer,  disclosing  two  handsomely 
mounted  Colt  revolvers. 

"  My  graduation  present  from  dad,"  he  re 
plied  to  the  questioning  glance ;  "  aren't  they 
beauties  ?  I  am  going  to  give  you  one ;  they 
are  so  much  handier  than  our  large  navy  re 
volvers." 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  receiving  one,"  Phil 
replied  gratefully.  "  I  don't  believe  we  need 
to  carry  arms  at  all,  and  if  we  do,  it  would  be 
wiser  to  carry  them  openly." 

"  I  shall  insist,  Phil,"  urged  Sydney.  "  Give 
it  back  when  you  have  no  further  use  for  it. 


86  A  UNITED  STATES 

But  you  must  see  there  may  be  times,  in 
secret  work,  where  we  might  wish  to  be  con 
sidered  unarmed  civilians,  and  in  a  country 
in  the  throes  of  revolution,  it's  much  safer  to 
have  one  of  these  little  persuaders  handy." 


CHAPTER  VI 

SECRET   SERVICE 

THREE  days  of  steady  steaming  brought  the 
"  Connecticut  "  within  the  tropics. 

The  sea  was  as  peaceful  as  the  waters  of  a 
lake  and  the  sun  overhead  shone  down  with 
pitiless  severity. 

"  All  hands  "  were  now  dressed  in  white  uni 
forms,  which  made  them  comfortable  enough 
on  deck  under  the  cool  shade  of  an  awning, 
but  below  decks  the  heat  from  the  engines 
and  boilers  was  stifling. 

The  two  friends  spent  most  of  their  leisure 
hours  in  the  open  air  and  at  night  rolled 
themselves  in  their  blankets  on  the  clean 
white  deck. 

One  evening  they  had  made  themselves 
comfortable  for  the  night  and  were  both  specu 
lating  upon  what  was  in  store  for  them  in  the 
land  of  turmoil  to  which  they  were  journey 
ing. 

87 


88  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Did  you  notice  the  sailorman,"  asked 
Sydney,  "  who  has  been  walking  past  here  as 
if  he  were  trying  to  find  out  who  we  are  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  notice,"  replied  Phil  sleepily ; 
"  it's  probably  one  of  the  messengers  search 
ing  for  some  officer  who  is  avoiding  the  heat 
as  we  are  doing  by  sleeping  on  deck." 

"  Maybe  so,"  Sydney  answered,  "  but  it  ap 
peared  to  me  he  scrutinized  us  very  closely, 
although  he  must  have  seen  immediately  who 
we  were.  That  light  behind  us  makes  us 
plainly  visible." 

"  We  are  accustomed  to  the  darkness,"  an 
swered  Phil,  with  a  yawn,  "  while  he  has  prob 
ably  just  come  out  of  the  light." 

Sydney  was  not  at  all  satisfied  with  the  ex 
planation  and  would  have  continued  the  argu 
ment,  but  Phil's  even  breathing  showed  his 
companion  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  the 
solution. 

They  had  been  asleep  but  a  short  time 
when  one  of  the  heavy  tropical  rain-storms, 
which  seem  to  be  ever  present  on  the  horizon 
in  these  waters,  burst  upon  the  ship,  surpris 
ing  the  boys,  who  had  not  noticed  the  gather 
ing  clouds  earlier  in  the  night.  They  saw 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  89 

with  regret  that  they  must  seek  other  shelter 
or  else  sleep  the  remainder  of  the  night  be 
low  in  their  heated  stateroom. 

"  I  am  going  below,  Syd.  I  am  sleepy 
enough  to  sleep  even  in  the  heat,"  said  Phil, 
gathering  his  bedding  and  disappearing  down 
the  hatchway. 

He  groped  his  way  across  the  dark  passage 
way,  sleepily  feeling  for  the  door  of  his  state 
room. 

Suddenly  he  collided  heavily  with  a  figure 
which  sent  him  reeling  across  the  deck.  His 
hand  struck  the  side  of  the  bulkhead  and  he 
saved  himself  a  fall. 

In  the  dark  he  could  just  distinguish  a 
white  figure  as  it  dashed  through  the  door 
of  the  mess  room  and  disappeared  under  the 
multitude  of  sleeping-hammocks  on  the 
berth  deck. 

What  could  it  mean  ?  What  was  this  man 
doing  in  his  room  ? 

Sydney  came  in  after  Phil  had  turned  on 
the  light  and  was  told  of  the  experience. 

"  See  if  any  of  your  valuables  are  miss 
ing  ?  "  he  suggested.  "  Mine  are  here  on  the 
bureau  all  in  plain  sight." 


90  A  UNITED  STATES 

Phil  had  been  rummaging  through  his  desk. 
He  now  turned  a  smiling  face  to  Sydney. 

"  You  were  right,  Syd,"  he  laughed,  "  the 
locket  is  gone.  He  did  risk  detection  to  gain 
possession  of  it.  But  it  doesn't  matter,  I  can 
never  forget  the  girl's  face.  I  have  looked  at 
it  a  hundred  times  in  the  last  few  days." 

"  The  man  of  the  locket  and  the  fellow 
who  was  watching  us  on  deck  are  one  and  the 
same,"  Sydney  exclaimed,  proud  of  his  per 
ception. 

"  Probably  so,"  answered  Phil,  "  but  that 
doesn't  help  us  ;  he  was  clever  enough  not  to 
be  recognized." 

The  boys,  in  spite  of  the  incident,  soon  fell 
asleep,  and  when  they  awakened  the  "  Con 
necticut  "  had  anchored  inside  the  break 
water  at  La  Boca. 

It  was  but  a  short  time  after  sunrise  when 
they  stood  together  at  the  rail  gazing  intently 
on  their  surroundings. 

"  So  this  is  South  America,"  said  Sydney 
finally;  "  it  looks  just  like  any  other  country, 
doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  there  is  a  difference,"  answered 
Phil,  meditatively ;  "for  instance,  see  that 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  91 

native  boatman  sculling  along  as  if  he  had  a 
week  to  reach  his  destination ;  then  look  over 
there  at  the  coal  pile  on  the  mole.  There  are 
nearly  enough  men  to  actually  eat  the  coal, 
yet  they  are  not  doing  as  much  work  as  ten 
good  Americans.  We  are  in  the  land  of 
1  Mariana '  (to-morrow).  No  one  wishes  to 
work  too  hard  to-day,  for  he  wishes  to  save 
enough  to  do  to-morrow." 

"  We  are  not  the  first  nation  to  send  a  war 
ship  here,  I  see,"  said  Captain  Taylor,  join 
ing  the  boys  in  their  study  of  the  harbor. 
"  There  is  a  German  cruiser  over  yonder  and  a 
Frenchman  is  anchored  just  astern  of  us,  and 
our  wireless  operator  has  been  in  communica 
tion  with  a  British  ship  for  some  hours.  She 
is  on  her  way  from  Barbadoes.  It  seems  we 
are  to  have  an  interesting  time." 

Phil  was  impatient  to  ask  the  captain  when 
their  work  would  commence,  but  he  desisted. 
It  were  better  the  captain  should  broach  the 
subject. 

"  I  hope  you  lads  have  the  '  lingo  '  at  your 
tongue's  tip,"  the  captain  remarked  smilingly. 
"  You  won't  find  much  English  spoken  here, 
and  a  little  Spanish  is  a  necessity." 


92  A  UNITED  STATES 

"Yes,  sir,"  they  both  agreed. 

Phil  could  not  contain  himself  longer. 

"  When  can  we  start  on  our  work,  sir  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Such  zeal  I  have  never  seen  before,"  an 
swered  the  captain,  a  merry  twinkle  in  his 
eyes.  "  Soon  enough,  lad,"  he  added  gravely. 
"  I  hope  nothing  happens  to  you  youngsters. 
I  almost  fear  I  am  wrong  in  not  sending 
older  and  maybe  wiser  heads  to  do  this 
work." 

"  Oh,  no,  sir,"  Phil  and  Sydney  cried  to 
gether  ;  then  Phil  added,  "  We  are  old  enough, 
sir;  we  are  nearly  twenty." 

"  Nearly  twenty,"  roared  the  skipper  in 
merriment.  "  You  are  both  mere  infants  in 
the  wicked  ways  of  these  people  here,  but  it 
will  be  an  excellent  lesson  for  you.  When  I 
was  your  age,"  he  added,  "  it  was  during  the 
Civil  War,  many  times  I  did  work  that  in 
these  days  of  peace  never  comes  to  men  of 
your  age." 

The  captain  left  them  to  receive  the  foreign 
officers  who  were  coming  alongside  to  pay  the 
customary  visit  of  courtesy  to  a  senior  com 
manding  officer. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  93 

Some  hours  later  Phil  and  Sydney  received 
orders  to  prepare  themselves  to  accompany 
Captain  Taylor  ashore  to  pay  his  respects  to 
the  United  States  Minister  to  Verazala. 

As  they  left  the  ship  in  the  speedy  "  Vidette," 
our  lads  felt  that  a  new  and  interesting  life 
was  opening  before  them.  Were  they  not  to 
have  a  hand  in  the  affairs  of  their  great  na 
tion? 

They  found  the  minister's  carriage  awaiting 
them  at  the  landing,  and  were  driven  rapidly 
amid  staring  crowds  of  natives  through  the 
narrow  streets  of  the  city. 

The  carriage  drew  up  at  a  large  house  on  a 
hill  overlooking  the  harbor.  The  coat  of  arms, 
emblazoned  on  the  door,  was  enough  evidence 
that  inside  was  the  inviolable  territory  of  the 
United  States  of  America. 

"  Ah,  captain,"  cried  the  Honorable  Robert 
Henderson,  as  he  grasped  the  hands  of  the 
three  officers  in  turn,  "  your  fine  ship  carry 
ing  that  grand  old  flag  was  a  welcome  sight 
when  we  awoke  this  morning.  A  great  weight 
has  been  lifted  from  my  mind." 

"  We  came  down  at  full  speed,  sir,"  replied 
Captain  Taylor,  courteously,  "  and  now  we  are 


94  A  UNITED  STATES 

at  your  service,  every  man  of  us.  You  have 
but  to  command  me." 

The  old  diplomat  swallowed  a  lump  in  his 
throat  before  replying. 

"  Captain  Taylor,  you  cannot  imagine  the 
delight  it  gives  us  exiles  to  feel  that  we  have 
so  many  brave  American  hearts  so  near  at 
hand.  I  pray  there  will  be  no  need  to  resort 
to  force,  but  affairs  appear  to  be  more  serious 
than  I  should  wish.  The  rebel  army  is  but  a 
league  from  the  city,  and  awaits  an  opportunity 
to  attack.  Their  leader,  General  Ruiz,  is  a 
cutthroat  and  unfit  for  the  high  office  of 
president  of  the  republic.  My  most  trust 
worthy  informant  tells  me  the  rebels  are  los 
ing  strength  daily  and  so  I  have  informed  the 
State  Department,  but  affairs  lately  have  led 
me  to  believe  that  their  strength  has  been  un 
derestimated.  I  should  greatly  deplore  the 
city  being  taken  by  these  brigands,  for  I  fear 
much  valuable  property  will  be  destroyed  by 
their  undisciplined  followers." 

"  There  seems  nothing  for  us  to  do,  save 
await  developments  ?"  asked  the  captain,  hav 
ing  followed  closely  the  minister's  explanation 
of  the  situation. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  95 

"  No,  there  is  nothing,"  he  answered  promptly. 
"  I  have  a  faithful  vice-consul,  who  keeps  me 
well  informed  of  the  movements  on  both  sides. 
He  is  a  naturalized  American  citizen.  His 
name  is  Isidro  Juarez.  He  has  lived  here 
many  years  and  seems  to  have  friends  in  both 
armies.  I  trust  him  implicitly.  I  shall  keep 
you  daily  informed  so  that  we  may  act 
promptly  in  an  emergency." 

"  Does  the  minister  know  that  arms  for  the 
insurgents  are  coming  from  the  United  States?" 
asked  Phil  of  the  captain  as  they  drove  back 
to  the  boat  landing. 

"  He  made  no  mention  of  it,"  he  answered. 
"  If  his  information  is  really  trustworthy,  he 
must  know  it." 

On  arriving  on  board  ship,  Phil  was  called 
upon  to  make  a  boarding  call  to  the  American 
mail  steamer,  just  arrived  from  New  York. 

Buckling  on  his  sword,  the  badge  of  official 
duty,  he  descended  the  gangway.  As  he  was 
about  to  step  into  the  "  Vidette  "  alongside,  he 
glanced  up  and  saw  O'Neil  was  at  the  helm. 

"  Well,"  he  cried  with  pleasure,  "  so  you 
have  had  a  promotion  too ;  I  am  mighty  glad 
to  see  you  in  my  boat.  This  is  going  to  be 


96  A  UNITED  STATES 

my  boat  while  here,"  he  confided  in  a  lower 
tone,  "  and  I  know  of  no  one  whom  I  would 
rather  have  than  you,  O'Neil." 

The  coxswain  beamed  with  pleasure. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Perry,"  he  answered 
abashed.  "  It's  a  great  honor  you  are  paying 
me,  sir." 

After  getting  alongside  the  anchored  mer 
chantman,  Phil  mounted  the  gangway  ladder 
to  the  main  deck. 

There  he  was  received  cordially  by  her 
captain. 

"  Glad  to  be  acquainted  with  you,"  he  said, 
shaking  the  lad's  hand.  "  It  does  me  good 
to  see  our  fine  big  ships  in  foreign  ports. 
These  dagos  here  are  a  hundred  per  cent, 
more  civil  already." 

He  led  the  way  to  his  cabin  and  gave  Phil 
the  information  which  the  custom  of  the 
naval  service  requires  be  obtained  upon  visit 
ing  American  merchantmen  in  foreign  ports. 

"  No,  you  cannot  be  of  any  assistance  to 
me,"  answered  the  captain  to  Phil's  inquiry  ; 
"  but  it's  great  to  see  her  over  there.  Why,  she 
could  blow  this  whole  town  into  pieces  in  a 
half  hour,  and  she  would,  too,  if  it  were 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  97 

necessary,  wouldn't  she?"  the  captain  inter 
rogated,  warmed  to  his  theme. 

A  uniformed  official  appeared  at  this 
moment  to  speak  to  him. 

"  Come  in,  Baldwin.  This  is  a  young 
officer  from  the  battle-ship,"  the  captain  an 
nounced  ;  "  Mr.  Baldwin  is  our  purser." 

"  The  legation  steam  launch  is  alongside 
for  the  minister's  freight,"  the  purser  reported. 
"  Mr.  Juarez  is  in  her  to  sign  the  receipts  for 
the  bills  of  lading.  Shall  I  deliver  it  at  once  ? 
There  are  about  twenty  heavy  packages." 

"  Very  well,  Baldwin,  go  right  ahead,"  re 
plied  the  captain.  Then  turning  to  Phil,  as  the 
purser  withdrew  :  "  A  diplomatic  officer  has 
a  privilege  which  no  one  else  has ;  his  freight 
can  be  landed  direct ;  everything  else  must 
go  through  the  custom-house  ashore  and  be 
inspected." 

The  captain  excused  himself  shortly  but 
insisted  that  Phil  should  make  himself  at 
home. 

"  Take  a  look  about  the  ship,"  he  said 
proudly ;  "  she's  not  as  big  as  yours  yonder, 
but  she  is  a  stanch  one  for  this  trade." 

Phil  was  glad  to  have  an  excuse  to  remain. 


98  A  UNITED  STATES 

He  had  heard  something  to  arouse  his 
curiosity. 

"  I  shall  have  a  look  at  this  Juarez  and  his 
boxes,"  he  mused  as  he  followed  the  captain 
on  deck. 

Stepping  to  the  high  rail,  he  glanced  down 
on  a  large  launch,  lying  alongside  the  ship 
abreast  her  forward  cargo  hatch.  Big  boxes 
were  being  hoisted  out  of  the  hold  by  the 
ship's  derrick  and  landed  on  the  smaller  ves 
sel's  deck.  Phil  saw  a  short  heavily  built 
man,  dressed  in  white  clothes,  with  a  wide 
brimmed  panama  set  over  a  massive  head.  He 
was  superintending  the  landing  of  the  boxes. 

This  man  Phil  knew  must  be  Juarez,  the 
minister's  confidential  vice-consul. 

Phil  descended  to  the  lower  deck  in  order 
to  be  nearer  the  work  of  landing  the  cargo. 
He  also  wanted  to  have  a  better  look  at  this  man. 

He  found  a  convenient  air  port  not  ten  feet 
from  the  launch,  where  he  could  see  un 
observed  by  those  on  board  it. 

There  were  a  number  of  very  heavy  pack 
ages  and  the  small  natives  on  the  deck  of 
the  launch  strained  and  pulled  to  find  deck 
space  for  them  all. 


IJK  FOUND  A   CONVENIENT 
•*•*    AIR  FORT 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  99 

Phil  saw  a  small  native  fishing-boat,  her 
sail  flapping  idly  in  the  gentle  breeze,  move 
slowly  and  with  deliberation  over  the  tranquil 
water,  edging  in  toward  the  launch. 

The  vice-consul  seemed  not  to  observe  it, 
but  Phil  saw  the  eagerness  on  the  fisherman's 
face.  He  watched  the  scene  with  rising 
pulse. 

The  boat  drifted  foot  by  foot  to  within  ten 
feet  of  the  launch. 

Juarez  busied  himself  at  the  strap  of  a  large 
box  in  the  stern  of  the  launch  nearest  the 
fisherman. 

Phil  saw  the  fisherman  make  a  swift  move 
with  his  hand,  and  saw  a  white  object  fall  on 
the  launch's  deck  at  Juarez's  feet.  Juarez 
lifted  one  foot  carelessly  and  placed  it  fairly 
on  the  object. 

The  fisherman  put  his  helm  over  and 
hauled  taut  his  sheet.  The  sails  quickly 
filled  and  the  boat  glided  swiftly  toward  the 
harbor's  mouth. 

Juarez  stooped  down  and  rising,  thrust  his 
hands  in  his  pockets. 

Phil  felt  every  nerve  thrill.  His  secret 
service  had  begun  under  a  lucky  star. 


CHAPTER  VII 

AN    IMPORTANT    DISCOVERY 

RETURNING  to  the  "  Connecticut,"  Phil  told 
his  remarkable  experiences  to  Sydney. 

"  Phil,  I  believe  we  have  blundered  upon 
the  way  in  which  these  insurgents  are  receiv 
ing  their  arms,"  he  replied  excitedly. 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,"  answered  Phil ;  "  and 
to  think  that  our  good  minister's  name  is 
being  used  in  such  a  way.  We  must  inter 
cept  these  boxes  before  they  reach  their 
destination." 

"  One  thing  is  certain,"  Sydney  insisted  ; 
"  the  minister's  name  will  be  removed  from 
the  boxes  before  they  are  sent  to  the  insur 
gents.  Juarez  is  too  clever  to  allow  himself 
to  be  discovered  in  this  risky  undertaking." 

"  You  are  right,"  agreed  Phil,  "  and  that 
means  Juarez  will  land  the  boxes  on  shore 
here  and  remove  all  marks  of  identification. 
Come,  we  must  find  where  the  minister's 
launch  will  land  and  try  to  discover  when 

100 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  101 

they  will  attempt  to  smuggle  the  arms  to  the 
insurgents.  It  will  be  by  water,  surely,  for 
he  wouldn't  dare  attempt  to  pass  through 
the  lines  of  the  loyal  army  with  his  bulky 
packages." 

Having  received  the  required  permission, 
the  lads  landed  again  on  the  great  iron  pier 
of  La  Boca. 

They  were  both  dressed  in  civilians'  clothes, 
but  in  this  town  of  so  few  strangers,  they 
were  recognized  immediately  as  coming  from 
one  of  the  men-of-war  in  port. 

They  walked  up  the  water  front,  examin 
ing  each  wharf  as  they  passed. 

"  There  she  is,  Syd,"  cried  Phil,  grasping 
his  friend's  arm  and  pointing  to  a  good-sized 
black  launch  tied  up  to  a  long  dock  running 
out  into  the  bay. 

"Careful,"  Sydney  cautioned;  "don't  de 
stroy  our  usefulness  by  being  too  much  inter 
ested.  There  may  be  unfriendly  eyes  looking 
at  us  this  very  minute.  Let's  stroll  down  and 
see  what  she  is  doing  there." 

The  boys  sauntered  down  the  wharf.  They 
saw  that  the  boxes  had  been  removed  from 
the  launch. 


102  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Those  boxes  are  inside  that  warehouse," 
announced  Sydney,  indicating  a  door  abreast 
the  launch.  The  warehouse  was  a  long  one, 
built  on  the  jutting  dock. 

"  La  Fitte  and  Company,"  murmured  Phil, 
reading  the  name  in  large  guilt  letters  over 
the  door  of  the  warehouse.  "  Where  have  I 
heard  of  that  firm  ?  " 

"  Why,  that's  the  firm,"  cried  Sydney,  sur- 
prisedly,  "  that  has  been  trying  to  get  the 
concession  of  the  Pitch  Lakes  away  from  the 
American  Syndicate.  I  begin  to  see  a  reason 
for  Juarez's  intrigue." 

•'  I  don't  understand,"  returned  Phil,  who 
had  not  followed  Sydney's  thoughts. 

"  It's  perfectly  clear,"  said  Sydney,  con- 
vincedly.  "  La  Fitte  and  Company  are  com 
posed  of  foreigners,  mostly  Frenchmen  ;  they 
have  engaged  Juarez  to  do  the  work  of  preju 
dicing  the  insurgents  against  Americans.  If 
this  rascal  succeeds  and  the  insurgents  gain 
the  reins  of  government,  the  concession  will 
be  taken  from  the  American  Syndicate  and 
given  to  La  Fitte  and  Company.  This 
concession  right  is  a  very  valuable  one, 
worth  many  millions  of  dollars  a  year  to 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  103 

those  who  are  lucky  enough  to  obtain 
it." 

"  Syd,  you  are  a  wonder,"  cried  Phil,  ad 
miringly.  "  Come,  we  have  no  more  business 
here." 

They  turned  about  and  walked  past  the 
unloaded  launch. 

The  vice-consul,  who  had  been  inside  the 
warehouse,  came  to  the  door  as  our  lads  passed. 

He  glanced  at  them,  a  startled  look  on  his 
face,  then  he  smilingly  raised  his  hat. 

"  Good-morning,"  he  greeted  in  English, 
with  a  marked  foreign  accent.  "  You  are  off 
the  '  Connecticut/  no  ?  We  are  delighted  to 
see  our  flag  on  such  a  fine  large  ship.  If  I 
can  be  of  the  slightest  service  I  shall  be  highly 
honored,"  he  added  in  the  suave  tones  of  a 
Spanish  grandee. 

Our  .boys  stopped  and  returned  his  greet 
ing,  thanking  him  for  his  considerate  offer. 
Then  they  continued  their  walk. 

Phil  looked  over  his  shoulder  and  surprised 
a  sinister  expression  on  Juarez's  face,  before 
he  could  hide  it  in  a  smile  of  parting. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  fellow  saw  us ;  he  may  sus 
pect  that  we  know  something  of  his  secret," 


104  A  UNITED  STATES 

confided  Phil,  as  he  and  Sydney  regained  the 
street  of  the  water  front. 

They  had  been  on  board  their  ship  but  a 
short  while  when  the  minister's  launch,  with 
his  flag  flying  in  the  bow,  was  reported  head 
ing  for  the  "  Connecticut." 

The  marine  guard  and  the  band  were 
quickly  paraded  on  the  quarter-deck  and  the 
officers,  headed  by  Captain  Taylor,  all  in  full 
uniform,  were  at  the  gangway  to  do  honor  to 
the  high  American  official. 

The  vice-consul  accompanied  the  minister, 
and  as  he  followed  his  chief  through  the  for 
mality  of  hand-shaking,  Phil  saw  him  grasp 
Lazar's  hand  cordially  and  tell  him  in  Spanish 
how  glad  he  was  to  see  him  again. 

Lazar  smiled  in  his  cold  way,  but  Phil 
thought  the  ensign  did  not  seem  overjoyed  to 
renew  the  acquaintance. 

"  So  Lazar  has  known  this  scoundrel  be 
fore,"  thought  Phil.  "  I  wonder  how  much 
he  knows  of  him." 

The  thought  was  answered  soon  enough, 
and  in  a  way  that  showed  Lazar  in  his  true 
character. 

Phil  had  gone  below  to  his  room  and  was 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  105 

writing  his  weekly  letter  home,  which  of  late 
his  new  and  eventful  life  had  caused  him  to 
neglect. 

He  was  seated  at  his  desk  under  the  venti 
lator  shaft,  which  brought  fresh  air  from  above. 
It  opened  into  one  of  the  numerous  ventilator- 
cowls  on  the  quarter-deck. 

He  could  hear  indistinctly  above  him  the 
voices  of  two  men,  pacing  the  quarter-deck, 
but  they  did  not  disturb  him  until  they 
stopped  directly  over  his  ventilator  shaft,  and 
he  recognized  at  once  the  voices  of  Lazar  and 
the  vice-consul. 

"  So  your  precious  conscience  hurts  you, 
does  it  ?  "  the  vice-consul  was  saying. 

"  It's  not  a  question  of  that,"  Lazar's  voice 
answered,  "  and  you  know  it,  Juarez.  But 
smuggling  is  too  risky.  I  had  a  narrow  es 
cape  from  detection  in  New  York  a  year  ago, 
getting  your  goods  ashore,  and  I  don't  wish  to 
go  through  that  worry  again." 

"  You  made  a  handsome  sum  out  of  it, 
didn't  you  ?  "  Juarez's  voice  questioned. 

"  Not  so  loud,"  Lazar  cautioned,  "  it's  too 
dangerous ;  if  this  were  known,  I'd  lose  my 


106  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  You  are  losing  your  nerve,  Lazar,"  the  vice- 
consul's  voice  sneered ;  "  there  is  no  one  about." 

"  You  can't  tell,  and  anyway,  this  is  not  the 
place  to  discuss  such  matters,''  Lazar  said  de 
cidedly. 

"  As  you  please,  but,  by  the  way,  I  might 
as  well  tell  you  ;  I  know  you  dare  not  betray 
me,"  the  vice-consul's  voice  said  menacingly, 
"  and  I  need  your  help." 

The  speakers  changed  their  positions 
slightly  and  their  voices  failed  to  carry  dis 
tinctly  to  the  eager  eavesdropper. 

Phil  trembled  with  expectancy  at  the  start 
ling  intelligence  he  had  received. 

So  Lazar  had  been  tempted  to  do  something 
for  which  his  commission  would  be  forfeited  if 
found  out.  What  a  terrible  weapon  to  hold 
over  his  enemy  if  he  continued  his  persecu 
tion.  What  was  the  secret  Juarez  had  con 
fided  to  Lazar  ?  The  arms  surely. 

The  voices  had  now  died  out  entirely,  and 
a  shuffling  of  feet  on  deck  told  Phil  that  the 
minister  was  ready  to  leave  the  ship. 

He  told  Sydney  all  he  had  heard  as  soon  as 
they  had  returned  to  their  room  after  the  de 
parture  of  the  American  minister. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          107 

"  I  am  not  surprised,"  exclaimed  Sydney, 
when  Phil  had  finished  his  story.  "  Lazar  is 
capable  of  anything  evil.  We  have  another 
person  to  reckon  with,  however,  in  this  arms 
smuggling.  If  he  suspects  we  are  attempting 
to  intercept  them,  Lazar  will,  in  hatred  of 
you,  try  to  defeat  your  plan." 

"  Hadn't  we  better  confide  in  Captain 
Taylor?  "  questioned  Phil.  "  We  can  thus  cut 
Lazar's  claws." 

"  We  should  not  do  that  until  we  can  prove 
our  story  fully,"  answered  Sydney.  "  The 
captain  might  believe  our  accusations  were 
true,  but  he  could  hardly  act  officially  upon 
them." 

"  It  seems  hard  that  such  a  scoundrel 
should  wear  an  officer's  uniform,"  protested 
the  lad,  "  but  I  dare  say  you  are  right,  Syd. 
We  must  seek  for  more  convincing  evidence." 

"  What  is  your  plan  for  to-night  ?  "  asked 
Sydney,  as  he  took  his  revolvers  out  of  their 
case  and  examined  them  critically. 

"  I  have  decided  to  keep  a  watch  during 
the  day,  and  if  no  vessel  large  enough  to 
carry  the  boxes  leaves  port  before  dark,  then 
to  lie  in  wait  in  the  '  Vidette  '  at  the  en- 


io8  A  UNITED  STATES 

trance  of  the  harbor,  and  overhaul  any  sus 
picious  craft  that  comes  out  of  port." 

"  Excellent,"  agreed  Sydney.  "  I  am  quite 
confident  that  Juarez  will  use  a  steamer ;  the 
breeze  is  too  light,  and  as  he  must  go  nearly 
twenty  miles  by  water  to  reach  the  insurgent 
lines,  a  sailing  vessel  would  be  out  of  the 
question.  The  note  you  saw  thrown  by  the 
native  boatman  undoubtedly  set  a  rendez 
vous  for  this  evening.  They  will  want  to  get 
the  arms  to  the  insurgents  as  soon  as  possible." 

Phil  and  Sydney  made  their  preparations 
quietly.  O'Neil  was  called  and  told  some 
thing  of  what  was  going  forward  and  ordered 
to  keep  his  launch,  the  "  Vidette,"  in  readi 
ness. 

All  afternoon  the  lads  spent  on  deck,  cast 
ing  anxious  glances  toward  the  dock  where 
the  minister's  launch  was  tied.  There  were  a 
number  of  other  launches  moving  about  the 
harbor,  but  there  was  only  one  other  large 
enough  to  carry  the  boxes. 

About  7  P.  M.,  the  sun  having  set  a  half- 
hour  before,  it  was  dark  enough  to  start,  and 
they  appeared  on  deck. 

"  We  have  the  captain's  permission  to  use 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  109 

the  '  Vidette/  "  Phil  reported  to  the  officer 
of  the  deck.  "  I  have  reported  to  Mr.  Pen- 
field.  Will  you  have  her  called  away,  sir  ?  " 

Then  Phil  peered  through  the  darkness, 
the  deck  lights  not  being  lighted  as  yet,  and 
saw  Lazar  was  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"  What  could  he  do  to  prevent  our  going?  " 
thought  Phil  nervously.  "  Nothing,  he  would 
not  dare." 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  Lazar  answered  carelessly, 
and  then  he  ordered  the  bugler  to  "  call  the 
'  Vidette '  away." 

Ten  minutes  dragged  by,  and  still  the 
"  Vidette  "  hung  at  the  lower  boom,  motion 
less  in  the  water. 

A  launch  steamed  by  the  battle-ship  at  fair 
speed,  standing  out  of  the  harbor.  Phil  and 
Sydney  strained  their  eyes  in  an  endeavor  to 
discover  its  identity,  but  the  night  was  too 
dark  and  it  was  soon  lost  sight  of  in  the 
distance. 

Phil  felt  sure  it  was  the  cargo  of  arms.  He 
could  suppress  his  impatience  no  longer. 

"  Mr.  Lazar,"  he  spoke  abruptly,  "  may  I 
go  and  find  out  what  is  holding  the 
4  Vidette  '  ?  " 


no  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  No,  sir,  I  shall  find  out  in  plenty  of 
time,"  he  sneered.  "  You  young  gentlemen 
seem  to  be  in  great  haste." 

Finally  he  hailed  the  "  Vidette  "  and  in 
quired  what  was  the  trouble. 

An  answer  came  back  in  O'Neil's  voice. 

"  We  can't  get  any  water  in  the  boiler ;  the 
feed  pump  is  jammed,  sir,"  he  cried,  in  ex 
asperation. 

Phil's  heart  sank.  There  was  the  prize 
slipping  away  before  their  very  eyes.  He 
knew  that  this  must  be  Lazar's  work. 

Turning  quickly  he  rushed  to  the  cabin 
and  unannounced  burst  in  upon  the  com 
manding  officer. 

"  Some  one  has  deliberately  disabled  the 
'  Vidette,'  "  he  cried  excitedly.  "  I  can't  tell 
you  why  now,  but  believe  me,  sir,  it  is  very 
important  for  us  to  get  away  at  once.  I 
asked  the  officer  of  the  deck,  Mr.  Lazar,  for 
permission  to  go  down  into  the  boat,  but  he 
refuses." 

The  captain  glanced  up  startled,  a  look  of 
annoyance  on  his  face.  Then  he  realized  that 
the  lad  was  in  deadly  earnest. 

Picking  up  his  cap  he  led  the  way  on  deck. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  ill 

"  Mr.  Lazar,"  he  ordered  sternly,  "  allow 
these  two  young  gentlemen  to  go  down  into 
the  '  Vidette  '  immediately." 

Lazar  hesitated  but  an  instant. 

"  Certainly,  sir.  If  you  say  so,"  he  an 
swered  with  a  wave  of  the  hand  to  the  wait 
ing  lads. 

The  two  boys  scrambled  hastily  down  the 
Jacob's  ladder  from  the  lower  boom  on  to  the 
deck  of  the  "  Vidette."  Phil  made  his  way 
to  the  machinery  space. 

The  engineer  and  fireman  were  bending 
over  the  little  feed  pump,  which  supplied  the 
boiler  with  water. 

Phil  glanced  at  the  gauge  glass  ;  there  was 
no  water  showing.  He  tried  the  test- 
cocks,  then  looked  quickly  at  the  steam 
gauge. 

"  The  boiler  is  half  full  of  water,  but  there 
is  only  fifty  pounds  pressure,  and  the  fires  are 
hauled,"  he  cried  angrily. 

"  Put  back  your  fire,"  he  shouted  to  the  fire 
man,  pushing  him  fiercely  toward  the  furnace, 
then  he  started  in  himself  to  get  the  feed  pump 
running. 

O'Neil   stood   by   petrified   with  astonish- 


112  A  UNITED  STATES 

ment  at  the  way  he  pitched  into  the  intricacies 
of  the  machinery. 

"  The  engineer's  a  new  one,  sir,"  he  whis 
pered  to  Phil.  "  I  don't  believe  he  knows 
much  about  this  kind  of  engine.  The  officer 
of  the  deck  took  our  regular  engineer  out  and 
put  this  man  in  about  an  hour  ago." 

Phil  had  been  too  much  occupied  trying  to 
find  the  trouble  to  grasp  the  meaning  of  the 
coxswain's  words. 

He  followed  up  each  pipe  and  made  every 
test  he  had  been  taught  at  Annapolis  to  use 
in  finding  the  trouble  with  these  machines. 

"  We  are  beaten,"  he  cried  despondently  to 
Sydney,  at  his  wit's  end. 

The  minutes  flew  by. 

Then  he  gave  a  shout  of  joy,  as  he  saw  a 
tiny  steel  wedge  jammed  in  between  the  mov 
ing  parts  of  the  pump. 

A  tap  with  a  hammer  and  the  pump 
started  up,  pumping  precious  water  into  the 
boiler. 

In  but  a  few  minutes  more  the  "  Vidette  " 
had  cast  off  her  line  and  was  steaming  with 
ever  increasing  speed  toward  the  entrance  to 
the  harbor. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  113 

Both  lads  scanned  the  horizon  to  seaward. 
There  was  nothing  in  sight. 

"  It's  like  looking  for  a  needle  in  a  hay 
stack,"  Phil  exclaimed  dejectedly.  "  We  don't 
even  know  which  way  they  turned  when  they 
reached  the  entrance." 

"  Begging  your  pardon,  sir,"  O'Neil  inter 
rupted  earnestly,  "  there  ain't  but  one  place 
for  her  to  go,  and  that  is  to  Mariel.  I  ran  on 
a  line  of  coasting  steamers  once  and  I  know 
somewhat  of  the  water  about  here.  There 
ain't  no  place  to  land  the  other  way  for  fifty 
miles." 

"  O'Neil,  you  are  a  trump,"  cried  Phil,  much 
relieved.  "  We  may  catch  her  yet ;  she  has 
over  a  half  hour's  start,  but  we  have  four 
knots  better  speed." 

Reaching  the  harbor  mouth,  O'Neil  put  his 
helm  hard  astarboard  and  headed  the  "  Vi- 
dette  "  to  the  westward  along  the  coast  line. 

"  How  close  to  shore  can  we  run?  "  asked 
Sydney,  addressing  the  coxswain. 

"  After  we  round  the  next  point  of  land, 
sir,  as  close  as  you  please,"  he  answered. 

The  minutes  dragged  heavily  along.  The 
point  was  reached  and  rounded,  then  the 


ii4  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Vidette  "  was  headed  to  close  with  the  shore 
line. 

"What  is  that  on  the  bow  there?"  Phil 
asked  anxiously,  pointing  to  a  dark  shadow 
on  the  dimly  lighted  water. 

There  was  not  a  doubt  but  that  it  was  the 
prize  scudding  along.  Great  volumes  of  smoke 
poured  from  her  stack.  The  smoke  had  be 
trayed  her  presence.  She  was  too  distant  for 
her  hull  to  be  visible. 

"  Hold  your  course,"  cried  Phil  joyously. 
"  We  can  head  her  off  on  this  line." 

Sydney  took  from  his  pockets  his  Colt  re 
volvers  and  laid  them  beside  the  big  navy 
Colts. 

"  Have  you  the  rifles,  O'Neil  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  That  I  have,  sir,  and  a  hundred  rounds 
of  ammunition  for  each  one,"  replied  the 
faithful  man  ;  "  and  me  and  Johnson  there 
know  how  to  use  them." 

"  Well,  I  trust  it  won't  be  necessary,"  said 
Phil  immensely  pleased,  "  but  it's  better  to  be 
sure  than  sorry." 

The  "  Vidette  "  drew  up  slowly  on  the  flee 
ing  launch. 

"  They    are    surely    making    for   Mariel," 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  115 

O'Neil  announced,  "  and  we  can  catch  them 
before  they  reach  there." 

Of  a  sudden  the  engines,  which  had 
been  running  perfectly,  suddenly  seemed  to 
slow. 

Phil  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant. 

"  What  is  it?  "  he  asked  anxiously. 

The  engineer  looked  up,  showing  a  white, 
scared  face  in  the  dim  light  of  the  solitary 
lantern. 

"  Running  a  little  hot,  sir,"  he  replied 
haltingly. 

Phil  felt  the  moving  parts.  They  were 
cool.  He  looked  up  in  surprise  at  the 
engineer  and  saw  him  put  his  hand  quickly 
in  his  shirt. 

Impulsively  he  grabbed  the  man  by  the 
wrist  and  held  his  hand  to  the  light. 

"  Sand  !  "  he  cried  in  anger. 

"  Get  this  man  out  of  here,  O'Neil,"  he  sud 
denly  ordered,  forcibly  pushing  him  from  the 
engines  and  taking  the  man's  place  at  the 
throttle. 

"None  of  your  monkeying  now,"  O'Neil 
assured  the  engineer.  "  You've  given  enough 
trouble  already." 


u6  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  engine  bearings  were  thoroughly  oiled 
and  the  throttle  opened  wide.  Fortunately, 
Phil  had  detected  the  man  in  time,  for  if  he 
had  succeeded  in  getting  the  smallest  quantity 
of  sand  in  the  bearings,  the  engines  must 
have  stopped. 

The  fleeing  launch  was  now  in  plain  sight, 
but  the  landing  at  Mariel  was  but  a  half  mile 
away.  He  did  not  dare  open  fire  on  her. 
Would  he  dare  attempt  to  cut  her  out  under 
the  eyes  of  the  insurgents  waiting  their  ex 
pected  guns  ? 

"  Launch  ahoy  !  "  Phil  hailed  in  Spanish. 

Silence. 

He  hailed  again  and  added:  "I  want  to 
speak  to  you  1 " 

From  outward  appearances,  there  was  no 
one  on  the  launch,  but  black  smoke  poured 
from  her  funnel  and  her  white  wake  showed 
she  was  making  a  final  spurt. 

The  bow  of  the  "  Vidette  "  was  now  inside 
and  abreast  of  the  launch's  quarter.  It  slowly 
moved  forward.  There  was  scarce  ten  feet  of 
open  water  between  the  two  boats. 

With  weapons  in  hand  Phil  and  his  men 
waited. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  117 

"  Put  her  alongside,"  Phil  ordered,  striving 
to  control  the  nervousness  in  his  voice. 

The  two  launches  came  together,  with 
scarcely  a  jar,  and  steamed  along  as  one  boat. 

No  one  moved  on  the  prize. 

O'Neil  instinctively  had  swung  his  bow 
around  and  headed  the  boats  out  from  the 
land  now  only  a  few  hundred  yards  distant. 

Phil  saw  there  were  four  men  on  the  boat, 
but  his  eyes  fell  with  pleasure  on  the  boxes. 

"  Do  you  surrender  ?  "  Phil  shouted  fiercely 
to  the  man  at  the  wheel,  only  five  feet  away 
from  him. 

The  man  glanced  in  terror  at  the  pistol 
pointing  at  his  head,  in  the  hands  of  a  gringo, 
one  of  those  whom  he  had  been  told  could  hit 
a  peso  at  a  distance  of  a  hundred  metres. 

"  Si,  senor,"  he  answered  tremblingly. 

As  the  two  boats  headed  away,  the  whole 
shore  line  near  them  burst  into  flame,  and 
the  hiss  of  countless  bullets  sang  warningly 
about  them.  Suddenly  the  suspected  engineer 
threw  up  his  hands  and  dropped  to  the  deck. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

PRISONERS 

O'NEiL  stuck  manfully  at  his  post,  the  bul 
lets  showering  around  him  as  he  stood  ex 
posed  at  the  tiller. 

Phil  breathed  more  easily  as  the  two 
launches,  now  secured  together,  put  sufficient 
distance  between  them  and  the  unfriendly 
shore. 

The  coxswain's  voice,  raised  anxiously, 
caused  our  lad  fresh  alarm. 

"  I  fear  he's  hit  badly,  sir,"  he  deplored,  as 
he  raised  a  limp  figure  from  the  bottom  of 
the  launch. 

Both  boys  were  beside  the  wounded  man  in 
an  instant  and  quickly  stripped  him  of  his 
blood-soaked  clothing.  In  the  light  of  a 
bull's-eye  lantern,  Phil  examined  the  hole 
made  by  an  insurgent  bullet. 

"  Only  a  flesh  wound,"  he  breathed,  im 
mensely  relieved ;  "  the  bullet  went  through 
the  fleshy  part  of  the  breast.  He  is  stunned, 
the  blow  was  so  near  his  heart." 

118 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  119 

"  Some  water,  quick,"  ordered  Sydney, 
while  Phil  bandaged  the  wounded  man  with 
strips  of  his  own  shirt. 

Water  thrown  on  his  face  brought  the  man 
back  to  consciousness. 

Phil  left  Sydney  to  make  the  wounded 
sailor  comfortable,  and  followed  by  O'Neil, 
boarded  the  prize. 

"This  is  not  the  minister's  boat;  this  one 
has  a  deck  house,  while  his  boat  is  flush 
decked,"  he  gasped  in  the  greatest  alarm. 
"  What  have  we  done?  "  Then  he  flashed  his 
light  over  the  cargo.  "  The  boxes  are  the  same, 
I  can  swear  to  that,  and,  as  I  supposed,  all 
marks  have  been  removed.  These  are  unad- 
dressed." 

The  frightened  crew,  imagining,  no  doubt, 
they  were  in  the  hands  of  pirates,  were  speech 
less  from  terror.  Juarez  was  not  on  board. 

"  What  launch  is  this?  "  demanded  Phil,  in 
Spanish. 

"  La  Fitte  and  Company's,  senor,"  replied, 
cringingly,  the  native  padron. 

"  What  have  you  here  ?  "  Phil  asked  flourish 
ing  his  revolver  menacingly,  "  and  where 
were  you  taking  them  ?  " 


120  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  They  contain  machinery,  senor,  for  Sefior 
La  Fitte's  plantation  at  Mariel,"  replied  the 
native  coxswain,  gaining  confidence,  seeing 
his  life  was  not  in  such  imminent  danger. 

Had  they  made  a  terrible  mistake  ?  Did 
these  boxes  contain  machinery  only  and  no 
arms  ?  But  why  should  they  be  sent  addressed 
to  the  United  States  Minister  ?  Then  the  re 
membrance  of  the  hot  fire,  through  which 
they  had  just  passed,  dissipated  all  doubt. 
They  were  surely  contraband  arms,  but  being 
on  board  a  launch  which  sailed  under  the  flag 
of  the  republic,  the  two  lads  were  openly  aiding 
the  government  of  the  republic. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  Phil  asked  himself. 
"  I  wish  Captain  Taylor  were  here  ;  this  situa 
tion  is  too  deep  for  me  to  solve." 

Then  he  thought  with  anxiety  of  the 
wounded  man,  an  evidence  of  their  expedition 
which  could  not  be  concealed. 

He  was  glad  when  Sydney,  who  had  been 
attending  the  sailor,  stood  beside  him  on  the 
captured  launch.  He  tersely  explained  to 
him  his  discovery. 

"  We  must  not  set  them  free,"  Sydney  ex 
claimed  immediately.  "  We  have  gone  too  far 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  121 

for  that.  You  are  confident  that  these  same 
boxes  ten  hours  ago  were  marked  for  our  min 
ister,  and  when  we  captured  them  they  were 
nearly  in  the  hands  of  the  insurgents.  There 
isn't  a  doubt  but  that  the  boxes  contain  arms." 

Picking  up  a  hatchet  lying  on  the  deck  of 
the  launch,  Phil  with  a  few  swift  strokes  bared 
the  contents  of  the  nearest  box. 

Both  lads  peered  in  anxiously. 

"  Colt  automatic  guns,"  cried  Phil,  trium 
phantly.  "Why,  this  shipment  is  worth  more 
to  the  insurgents  than  ten  thousand  rifles. 
The  side  which  has  these  guns  will  win  the 
fight.  There  must  be  several  batteries  of  them 
packed  in  these  cases." 

No  longer  in  doubt,  Phil  ordered  O'Neil  to 
tow  the  launch  back  to  the  harbor  of  La  Boca. 

They  had  been  on  the  return  but  a  short 
time,  when  O'Neil's  voice  disturbed  the  lads 
deep  in  their  own  thoughts. 

"  There  is  a  launch  heading  this  way,  sir," 
he  reported;  "  it  looks  like  one  of  our  steamers." 

Phil  was  on  his  feet  instantly  peering  through 
the  darkness  ahead. 

"  Ahoy,  there,"  from  the  approaching 
launch  ;  "  what  launch  is  that?  " 


122  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  The  '  Vidette,'  sir,"  Phil  answered,  greatly 
relieved.  He  recognized  Captain  Taylor's 
voice  and  ordered  O'Neil  to  stop  and  "  lay  to." 

"Are  you  all  right?"  the  captain  hailed 
anxiously. 

Phil  hesitated  an  instant,  then  he  thought 
explanations  could  be  made  when  he  came  on 
board. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  he  answered. 

The  steamer  sheered  up  alongside  the 
"  Vidette  "  and  the  captain  stepped  on  board. 

"What  have  you  done? "he  inquired  in 
alarm  as  he  saw  for  the  first  time  the  launch 
in  tow.  "  I  felt  uneasy  after  you  had  gone  and 
followed  you  in  one  of  the  ship's  steamers.  I 
heard  the  firing  a  few  minutes  ago  and  then 
sighted  you  coming  back.  What  does  it 
mean?"  He  stopped  breathlessly  in  amaze 
ment. 

Phil  was  the  first  to  speak.  He  quietly  and 
laconically  outlined  the  incident  from  the 
beginning,  leaving  out  all  that  in  any  way 
concerned  Lazar. 

"  And  now,  sir,"  he  said  in  conclusion,  "  I 
am  no  longer  in  command.  I  am  ready  to 
receive  your  orders,  sir." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  123 

Both  lads  saluted,  and  O'Neil  seeing  that 
something  was  going  forward  raised  his  hand 
also  to  his  cap. 

"  Bless  me  !  "  cried  the  captain,  glancing  at 
his  piratical  crew  in  the  glimmer  of  the 
swinging  lantern.  They  did  look  desperate ; 
each  of  the  three  was  plentifully  sprinkled 
with  the  blood  of  the  wounded  man  and  Phil 
was  bared  to  the  waist,  his  shirt  having  gone 
to  make  a  first-aid  bandage. 

"  What  puzzled  us,"  began  Phil,  "  is  how 
we  are  going  to  dispose  of  these  arms.  Of 
course,  we  must  set  the  launch  free  to-night." 

"  Exactly  so,"  exclaimed  the  captain  ;  "  that 
is  the  question — what  to  do  with  the  arms." 

"  Wouldn't  on  board  the  ship  be  the  safest 
place?"  questioned  Sydney. 

"  Undoubtedly,"  returned  the  captain,  "  but 
it  wouldn't  do.  I  have  it,"  turning  to  Phil ; 
"you  say  yo  :  are  positive  these  boxes  came 
on  the  steamer  this  morning  addressed  to  our 
minister ;  then  we  shall  deliver  them  to  him 
at  the  legation." 

"  That  is  our  best  course,  surely,"  Phil 
agreed.  "  But  might  not  the  minister  refuse 
to  receive  them,  fearing  that  they  might  be 


124  A  UNITED  STATES 

coveted  by  both  sides,  and  thus  precipitate  an 
attack  on  the  legation  ?  " 

"  There  would  be  no  danger  of  that  hap 
pening,"  answered  the  captain,  "  for  I  shall 
send  a  guard  ashore  with  the  boxes,  to  remain 
at  the  legation.  I  had  intended  waiting  until 
affairs  became  more  serious,  but  the  contents 
of  these  boxes  furnishes  me  with  sufficient 
reason  to  act  at  once." 

O'Neil  rang  up  full  speed  and  the  "  Vidette," 
with  her  prize  in  tow,  was  again  steaming  for 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor. 

Phil  told  the  captain  about  the  wounded 
man,  but  refrained  from  mentioning  his  con 
duct  during  the  chase,  and  that  kindly  officer 
insisted  on  speaking  to  the  disabled  sailor. 

"What  is  your  name,  my  man?"  he  ques 
tioned  sympathetically. 

The  engineer  glanced  up,  showing  a  worried 
face  in  the  light  of  the  oil  lantern. 

"  Joseph  Craig,  sir,"  he  answered. 

The  excitement  of  the  recent  incident  had 
passed  away  and  Phil's  thoughts  now  dwelt 
on  the  curious  action  of  the  engineer.  Why 
had  he  tried  to  detain  the  "  Vidette  "  ?  What 
interest  could  he  have  in  the  captured  arms  ? 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  125 

He  could  arrive  at  but  one  conclusion  :  Joseph 
Craig  was  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  Lazar. 

The  "  Vidette "  and  her  prize  were  soon 
alongside  the  battle-ship,  and  the  captain 
stepped  on  board,  followed  by  the  two  boys. 

Lazar 's  disappointed  face  gave  them  a  taste 
of  real  enjoyment,  but  the  captain's  words 
quickly  turned  the  tables. 

"  Send  word  to  Mr.  Penfield,"  he  ordered, 
addressing  Lazar,  "  that  I  desire  to  send  the 
guard  for  the  legation  ashore  immediately. 
You  will  go  in  charge,  with  Midshipmen  Mar 
shall  and  Morrison  as  your  assistants.  The 
guard  will  consist  of  fifty  men.  They  must 
take  tenting  and  rations.  The  boxes  in  that 
black  launch  contain  machine  guns  and  were 
destined  for  the  insurgent  army  ;  these  are  to 
be  taken  to  the  legation  and  your  sole  duty  is 
to  guard  them  safely." 

Phil  had  half  started  to  speak  as  he  saw 
Lazar's  face  light  up  with  triumph. 

"  After  all,"  he  thought,  "  he  dare  not  de 
liver  up  the  guns.  It  would  be  worth  his 
commission  at  the  very  least.  They  are  surely 
safe  in  his  hands." 

"  Now,   Mr.    Perry,"   said    the    captain   in 


126  A  UNITED  STATES 

kindly  tones,  turning  from  the  officer  of 
the  deck  to  the  waiting  midshipmen,  "  you 
and  Mr.  Monroe  go  below  and  turn  in.  You 
have  worked  hard  enough  for  one  day.  Mr. 
Lazar  can  attend  to  everything.  Your  service, 
gentlemen,  has  been  highly  gratifying  and  a 
credit  to  the  best  traditions  of  American 
midshipmen." 

The  lads  went  reluctantly  below  to  their 
room,  much  chagrined  at  the  course  affairs 
had  taken.  Their  enemy  and  a  paid  emis 
sary  of  the  vice-consul  in  charge  of  the  arms 
they  had  worked  so  hard  to  capture.  It 
was  deeply  disappointing,  but  they  felt  power 
less. 

"  I  couldn't  have  interfered,"  Phil  argued 
to  himself  as  he  lay  in  his  bunk,  "  unless  I 
told  the  captain  all,  and  what  proof  could 
I  have  brought?  Both  Lazar  and  the  vice- 
consul  would  deny  it." 

Despite  their  excited  experiences,  our  boys 
were  soon  wrapt  in  profound  slumber. 

They  were  awake  early  the  next  morning 
and  went  about  their  routine  duties  on  board 
ship  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

The  wounded  engineer  was  placed  in  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  127 

sick  bay  and  the  doctors  announced  he  would 
be  ready  for  duty  in  a  few  days. 

A  rumor  that  something  extraordinary  had 
happened  passed  about  the  ship,  but  the  cap 
tain  cautioned  the  strictest  secrecy,  and  gave 
out  that  he  had  landed  the  guard  to  be  ready 
in  case  the  expected  assault  on  the  city  should 
prove  successful. 

Phil,  as  he  stood  on  the  quarter-deck  after 
breakfast,  could  see  the  dozen  or  more  khaki- 
colored  tents  on  Legation  Hill,  where  Lazar's 
men  were  encamped. 

"  Marshall  and  Morrison  are  there,  I  am 
thankful  to  say,"  he  murmured.  "  Lazar  will 
have  to  reckon  with  two  wide-awake  men." 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  Captain  Taylor  said  a  few 
moments  later  in  his  cabin,  where  Phil  had 
gone  in  answer  to  his  summons,  "  I  have 
just  received  a  message  in  cipher  from  the 
Navy  Department.  It  is  of  grave  importance. 
One  which  so  closely  concerns  our  govern 
ment  that  we  must  needs  spare  no  effort  to  as 
certain  the  truth.  The  State  Department 
have  reason  to  believe  that  affairs  here  are  not 
as  represented  by  official  despatches  from  the 
minister.  You  have  already  unmasked  one 


128  A  UNITED  STATES 

villain,  and  undoubtedly  it  was  he  who  has 
misled  the  minister  in  his  estimates  of  the 
strength  of  the  insurgents.  I  do  not  think  it 
advisable  at  this  time  to  report  to  Washington 
the  perfidy  of  Juarez.  Our  minister  believes, 
as  I  do,  that  as  we  have  the  arms  it  is  better 
to  say  nothing  at  present.  Juarez  of  course 
has  deserted  and  may  be  in  the  insurgent 
camp.  Or,  still  more  likely,  he  sailed  in  the 
American  steamer  this  morning  for  Panama. 
We  must  have,  as  soon  as  possible,  reliable  in 
formation  as  to  the  strength  of  the  rebellion. 
It  is  this  intelligence  that  I  wish  you  to  get 
from  the  insurgent  camp." 

Phil  listened  attentively  to  the  captain's 
lengthy  explanation  and  instructions.  His 
pulse  beat  fast.  Here  was  an  opportunity  he 
had  longed  for,  dreamed  of.  It  was  now 
really  true.  He  was  going  to  the  camp  of  an 
army.  He  would  see  war. 

"  The  details  I  shall  leave  to  you,"  the  cap 
tain  continued,  smiling  at  the  distinct  delight 
in  the  lad's  face.  "  Do  not  be  too  impetuous. 
Remember  it  is  hazardous  work,  and  of  such 
a  peculiar  character  that  you  may  be  de 
prived  of  your  right  as  a  neutral.  Mr.  Mon- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  129 

roe,  I  am  sure,  will  wish  to  go  with  you,  and 
I  think  you  should  have  one  other." 

"  May  O'Neil  go  along,  sir  ?  "  asked  Phil,  at 
tempting  to  conceal  from  the  quiet  captain  his 
boyish  excitement. 

"  Yes,  certainly,"  assented  the  captain 
amusedly.  "  You  seem  to  like  O'Neil." 

"  Like  him,  sir,"  cried  he,  in  admiration, 
"  why  he  is  the  finest  type  of  American  sailor- 
man  I  have  ever  met." 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  so  much  discernment," 
the  captain  said  smilingly  ;  "  it  is  rare  at  your 
age.  That  is  also  my  opinion  of  him."  He 
reached  down,  and  from  his  desk,  took  up  a 
sheet  of  oiled  paper,  with  an  engraving  at  the 
top  and  the  seal  of  the  United  States  across  its 
face. 

"  I  believe,"  he  said  generously,  "  that  he 
would  rather  have  this  at  your  hands  than 
mine.  Give  this  to  boatswain's  mate  O'Neil." 

Phil  ran  from  the  cabin  in  joyful  haste, 
after  thanking  the  captain  as  if  he  himself  had 
received  the  promotion. 

He  found  O'Neil  in  his  quarters  and  pressed 
the  paper  upon  him. 

The  new  boatswain's  mate's  eyes  opened  wide 


130  A  UNITED  STATES 

with  surprise,  and  his  face  was  flushed  with 
delight. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  O'Neil,"  Phil  cried. 
"  You  deserve  it,  and  more  too." 

O'Neil's  voice  was  husky  with  manly 
emotion,  as  he  thanked  the  young  officer. 

"  I  shan't  forget  your  kindness,"  he  said 
gratefully. 

A  few  hours  later  three  travelers  passed 
along  the  narrow  streets  of  La  Boca  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  suburbs.  Each  carried  a  small 
bundle  in  one  hand  and  a  climbing  stick  in 
the  other.  Their  clothes  were  old  and  worn 
as  if  their  owners  were  accustomed  to  much 
tramping  over  a  rough  country.  They  passed 
without  hindrance  through  the  successive 
lines  of  defense  of  the  loyal  army.  Walking 
Englishmen  were  frequent  and  their  costumes 
bore  out  the  part. 

Leaving  the  city  behind  them,  they 
traveled  along  the  military  road,  running 
parallel  to  the  sea.  Its  sides  were  lined  with 
high  tropical  vegetation,  with  here  and  there 
a  hut  nestling  in  a  clearing,  but  all  were 
deserted.  They  were  between  the  lines  of 
the  two  armies. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  131 

A  quarter  of  a  mile  down  the  road  a  dark 
object  came  into  view,  standing  like  an  aban 
doned  wagon  in  the  middle  of  the  sun-baked 
road-bed. 

"  Artillery,"  Phil  cried  ;  "  now  look  out  for 
a  challenge." 

"  I  hope  they  don't  shoot  first  and  challenge 
afterward,  like  Cuban  guerrillas,"  said  O'Neil 
calmly. 

As  the  three  came  nearer  the  solitary 
cannon,  pointing  its  frowning  muzzle  menac 
ingly  toward  them,  several  figures  suddenly 
appeared  from  the  shade  of  a  hut  by  the  road 
side,  and  peered  at  the  approaching  Ameri 
cans.  One  then  left  the  group  and  advanced 
slowly  toward  them. 

The  travelers  saw  by  his  uniform  that  he 
was  an  officer. 

"  Good-afternoon,"  Phil  called  politely  in 
Spanish,  taking  off  his  hat. 

The  officer  saluted  and  gazed  questioningly 
at  the  three  men. 

"  What  is  your  business  here  ?  "  he  inquired 
brusquely  in  his  native  tongue. 

"Oh,  we  are  just  out  for  a  tramp,"  Phil 
replied  lightly.  "  You  fellows  are  so  per- 


132  A  UNITED  STATES 

sistent  in  your  siege,  that  our  legs  were  be 
ginning  to  get  soft  in  the  city,  so  we  thought 
we'd  come  out  and  stretch  them." 

The  officer  smiled,  pleased  at  the  compli 
ment  to  the  army  in  which  he  was  an 
officer. 

"  English  ?  "  he  asked,  relenting. 

"  Yes,  travelers,"  Phil  replied  suavely ; 
"  we  are  getting  news  for  European  papers." 
This,  Phil  thought,  was  rather  clever  and  not 
untrue,  either,  for  what  they  found  out  would 
in  time  find  its  way  to  European  news 
papers. 

"  Ah  ! "  exclaimed  the  officer  delightedly, 
who  like  all  his  race  saw  no  good  in  fighting 
unless  his  valor  would  be  heralded  to  the 
world,  "you  are  just  in  time  to  see  a  grand 
battle.  We  are  waiting  now  the  order  to 
attack.  General  Ruiz  expects  a  number  of 
machine  guns ;  when  they  arrive  we  shall 
enter  the  city  in  triumph  ; "  his  voice  rose 
with  excitement.  "  You  will  see  the  greatest 
battle  of  the  century ;  there  will  be  many 
killed  :  you  are  lucky  to  be  with  us." 

Phil  expressed  his  delight  as  best  he  could, 
but  the  officer's  words  had  given  him  a  dis- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  133 

tinct  shock.  It  would  go  hard  with  them  if 
Ruiz  found  out  they  had  captured  the  arms 
he  was  awaiting. 

"  But  he  must  know  they  were  captured," 
Phil  thought  suddenly.  He  glanced  out  to 
ward  the  sea.  "  Why,  it  was  here  that  we 
were  fired  upon."  Then  he  said  aloud  : 

"  Is  this  Mariel  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  officer,  "  Mariel  is  over 
there.  Our  general's  headquarters  are  just 
behind  the  town.  It  is  but  a  half-hour's  walk 
from  here.  I  shall  do  myself  the  honor  of 
accompanying  you." 

Phil  protested  that  they  could  go  on  alone, 
but  the  officer  politely  insisted. 

He  gave  some  hurried  orders  to  a  ragged 
sergeant,  then  led  the  way  past  the  gun  and 
up  the  road. 

Phil  glanced  with  interest  at  the  field  piece. 
It  was  an  American  made  gun  and  looked 
brand  new. 

"Some  more  of  Juarez's  rascality,"  he 
thought. 

"  My  name  is  Pedro  Valdez,  Lieutenant  of 
Artillery,"  the  officer  announced,  extending 
his  hand  and  bowing  politely. 


134  A  UNITED  STATES 

Phil  took  it  and  stammered  out  the  names 
that  came  first  in  his  mind  : 

"  Mr.  Sydney,  Mr.  John  ;  and  my  name  is 
Phillips,"  he  answered,  including  his  com 
panions  and  himself  with  a  comprehensive 
wave  of  the  hand. 

"  Do  your  comrades  speak  Spanish  ?  "  the 
officer  asked. 

"  No,"  Phil  replied,  decidedly  in  haste, 
fearing  Sydney  might  answer  in  the  affirma 
tive.  He  felt  it  best  that  there  should  be  but 
one  mouthpiece. 

After  ten  minutes  of  brisk  walking,  they 
arrived  at  a  pretty  country  villa.  It  was 
surrounded  by  trees  of  all  descriptions  and 
throughout  the  garden  flowers  of  many  colors 
were  growing  in  great  profusion,  filling  the 
balmy  air  with  delicious  perfume.  The 
house  itself  was  built  of  the  adobe  so  common 
in  Spanish  speaking  countries  ;  one  storied 
with  a  central  court  in  which  more  plants 
and  flowers  gave  their  fragrance. 

Another  officer  met  them  at  the  door  and 
escorted  them  to  the  courtyard,  where  a  num 
ber  of  tables  were  laid  for  a  meal.  The  odor 
of  savory  cooking  made  our  friends  remem- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  135 

her  that  their  last  meal  had  been  break 
fast. 

After  a  few  moments'  wait,  an  older  officer 
appeared ;  he  was  dressed  simply  in  fatigue 
uniform,  but  wore  a  large  gold  star  over  his 
left  breast.  He  shook  hands  cordially  with 
the  visitors. 

There  had  been  no  introduction,  but  Phil 
knew  at  a  glance  that  this  short,  thin,  wiz 
ened  Spaniard,  was  the  great  General  Ruiz, 
probably  the  next  dictator  of  Verazala. 

"  Sit  down,  gentlemen,"  he  said  in  his  na 
tive  language.  "  We  are  very  fond  of  the 
English  ;  they  are  always  welcome,  but  your 
brothers,  the  Americans,  are  different.  They 
do  not  like  me,  so  I  do  not  like  them."  As 
he  spoke  his  face  showed  the  vindictiveness 
of  his  race. 

Phil  felt  he  ought  to  say  something,  but  it 
was  hard  to  collect  his  thoughts.  The  role 
of  impostor  was  a  new  one. 

"  I  thank  you  for  myself  and  friends,"  he 
managed  finally  to  say.  "  We  desire  a  pass 
through  your  lines.  We  are  writers,  and  wish 
to  send  home  an  account  of  your  coming 
battle." 


136  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Can  I  be  sure  you  will  not  give  your  in 
formation  to  our  enemy  ?  "  the  general  answered 
in  a  hard  voice.  "  A  spy  is  a  danger  we  must 
always  look  for  in  war.  We  shoot  them  like 
that ; "  he  snapped  his  fingers  and  showed 
his  even  white  teeth  in  a  cruel  smile. 

Phil  did  not  dare  look  at  his  two  friends, 
reduced  to  enforced  silence. 

The  disguised  American  officers  were  boun 
tifully  supplied  with  food  and  pressed  to  stay 
over  night  under  the  general's  roof,  but  Phil 
felt  it  safer  to  be  away  from  under  the  piercing 
black  eye  of  this  fiery  little  Spaniard. 

"  How  did  you  feel,  O'Neil,  when  the  gen 
eral  spoke  about  spies?"  asked  Phil  soberly, 
after  they  had  left  the  house  behind  and  were 
on  the  road  again. 

"  I  felt  as  if  I  were  standing  with  my  back 
against  a  wall,  with  a  file  of  them  dago  soldiers 
shooting  at  me,  sir,"  answered  the  boatswain's 
mate  with  a  grin. 

"  I  didn't  feel  any  too  happy,  either,"  ac 
knowledged  Phil,  "  but  I  hope  we  can  soon 
find  out  what  we  need  to  know  and  get  back 
to  the  city  before  they  suspect  our  mission." 

That  night  they  slept  in  a  little  pueblo  in- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  137 

side  the  insurgent  lines  and  were  on  the  road 
early  the  next  morning. 

During  the  forenoon  they  passed  regiment 
after  regiment  of  ragged  soldiers.  The  lads 
inspected  them  carefully  ;  their  rifles  were  new 
and  of  a  late  pattern,  and  they  seemed  plenti 
fully  supplied  with  ammunition. 

"  I  have  counted  no  less  than  twenty  pieces 
of  artillery,"  Sydney  cried  ;  and  then  pointing 
to  a  grove  of  cocoanut  trees  ahead  of  them, 
"  and  there  is  a  whole  battery  of  some  kind 
of  ordnance." 

"  Syd,"  Phil  answered,  "  I  believe  we  have 
seen  enough  already,  though  we  can't  have 
seen  the  beginning,  to  report  to  our  captain 
that  this  revolution  is  of  a  serious  character 
and  is  probably  going  to  win." 

"  I  feel  sorry  for  the  minister,"  Sydney  said 
gravely ;  "  he  seemed  such  a  kind  old  gen 
tleman  ;  but  I  suppose  he  shouldn't  have  been 
so  credulous." 

"  I  feel  very  sorry  for  him,  too,"  answered 
Phil,  "  and  I  hope  we  can  straighten  this  out 
and  save  him  from  the  disgrace  of  being  re 
lieved  of  his  office.  He  was  new  here  and 
speaks  no  Spanish  at  all.  It  was  natural  he 


138  A  UNITED  STATES 

should  fall  into  the  snare  set  for  him  by  that 
scheming  rascal  Juarez." 

Studying  carefully  everything  they  observed, 
the  three  Americans  moved  slowly  along  the 
road,  on  the  borders  of  which  the  army  of 
General  Ruiz  was  encamped,  ready  for  the  ex 
pected  word  to  assault  the  city. 

An  officer  stepped  from  the  grove  of  trees  in 
front  and  came  boldly  toward  them. 

Our  boys  regarded  him  indifferently  until 
he  approached  to  within  a  few  yards  of  them, 
then  their  hearts  sank  as  they  recognized 
the  triumphant  face  of  the  American  vice- 
consul. 

He  raised  his  uniform  cap  in  mock  civility. 

"  Three  English  newspaper  reporters,"  he 
sneered.  "  I  have  received  instructions  from 
General  Ruiz  to  show  you  every  courtesy." 

The  lads  were  dumbfounded.  The  game 
was  up.  A  vision  of  a  dark  prison  flashed 
before  them. 

Phil  was  the  first  to  recover  himself. 

"  We  meet  you  in  a  new  role  also,"  he  re 
plied  in  English,  in  a  voice  he  tried  hard  to 
control. 

"  I  have  no  further  use  for  my  other  role, 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  139 

since  your  meddling  of  yesterday,"  Juarez  re 
plied  savagely. 

"  And  I  suppose,"  answered  Phil  in  as  cheer 
ful  a  voice  as  he  could  muster,  "  we  must  be 
hereafter  three  American  naval  men." 

"  That  shall  not  save  you,"  the  vice-consul 
growled.  "  General  Ruiz  will  be  delighted  to 
meet  the  men  who  have  cheated  him  out  of 
his  machine  guns.  With  those  guns  he  could 
take  the  city  this  minute." 

"  We  have  done  what  any  honorable  men 
would  do,"  Phil  began  hotly,  but  Juarez 
turned  his  back  with  an  expressive  shrug  of 
his  heavy  shoulders. 

"  Here,  sergeant,"  he  called,  "  arrest  these 
spies." 

The  worst  had  happened.  They  had  met 
the  one  man  Phil  had  hoped  he  could  avoid. 
Their  reason  for  being  there  Juarez  of  course 
surmised,  and  he  could  defeat  them  by  hav 
ing  them  locked  up  in  an  insurgent  dungeon 
until  the  city  had  fallen. 

Five  or  six  soldiers  came  menacingly 
toward  them,  bayonets  fixed.  Phil  saw  the 
futility  of  resistance.  He  made  the  sign  of 
surrender,  but  the  soldier  nearest  O'Neil  was 


140  A  UNITED  STATES 

a  little  overzealous  in  the  use  of  his  bayonet. 
The  sailor's  Irish  blood  was  aroused ;  with  a 
swing  of  his  powerful  fist  he  sent  the  man 
reeling  backward,  stretching  his  full  length 
on  the  white  road. 


CHAPTER  IX 

A   TERRIBLE    PREDICAMENT 

THE  rash  act  of  the  sailor  placed  the  lives 
of  the  three  men  in  jeopardy.  The  soldiers 
snatched  up  their  rifles  and  closed  in  menac 
ingly. 

At  this  moment,  however,  a  cavalcade 
appeared  suddenly,  and  the  cry  of  "  Viva 
General  Ruiz,"  filled  the  air.  The  soldiers 
near  the  Americans  fell  back  sullenly,  leaving 
their  captives  alone  in  the  middle  of  the 
road. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  cried  an  officer, 
spurring  ahead  and  drawing  in  his  spirited 
animal  between  the  Americans  and  the  natives. 
"  I  gave  these  Englishmen  safe  conduct. 
Who  dares  disobey  my  orders  ?  " 

Juarez  had  cautiously  stepped  aside  at  the 
approach  of  the  horseman  ;  he  now  advanced 
boldly,  wearing  the  air  of  one  who  has  news 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  divulge. 

"Your  Excellency,"  for  the  officer  was 
141 


142  A  UNITED  STATES 

none  other  than  General  Ruiz  himself,  "  these 
men  are  Americans  and  spies.  I  am  lucky  to 
have  recognized  them  before  they  were  able 
to  reenter  the  city  and  report  our  strength  to 
the  enemy." 

The  general  looked  incredulous.  He  was 
about  to  speak,  when  Juarez  dropped  a  veri 
table  bombshell  at  his  feet  by  hastily  adding  : 

"  These  two  young  men  are  the  American 
midshipmen  who  captured  your  machine 
guns  at  Mariel,  so  you  see  I  have  reason  to 
know  them." 

The  general  turned  fiercely  on  the  be 
wildered  Americans,  a  dark  scowl  on  his 
sallow  face. 

"  So  these  are  the  men  who  captured  my 
guns  under  my  very  eyes,"  he  cried  in  rage. 

His  face  was  livid  with  passion.  His  hand 
sought  his  saber  as  if  he  would  cut  them 
down  on  the  spot. 

"  Arrest  them  immediately,"  he  ordered  in 
a  choking  voice  ;  "  I  shall  make  an  example  of 
these  meddling  Americans.  Colonel  Juarez,  I 
appoint  you  their  jailer.  I  know  it  is  un 
necessary  to  caution  you  to  guard  them 
well." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  143 

"  Will  they  shoot  us,  sir  ?  "  whispered  O'Neil 
anxiously  to  Phil,  his  hand  resting  grimly  on 
his  revolver  handle,  "  for  if  they  will,  I  have 
six  bullets  here  I'd  like  to  get  rid  of  first." 

The  boatswain's  mate  was  so  much  in 
earnest  that  in  spite  of  the  gravity  of  the 
situation,  Phil  could  not  repress  a  smile.  He 
suddenly  paled,  as  the  thought  came  to  him 
of  what  the  effects  of  O'Neil's  rough  and  ready 
diplomacy  might  be.  He  knew  him  for  an 
unerring  shot,  and  the  leader  of  the  insurrec 
tion  would  be  the  first  to  fall.  Then  their 
chance  for  life  would  indeed  vanish. 

He  grasped  the  sailor's  hand  and  breathed  : 

"  For  your  life  take  your  hand  from  your 
revolver.  They  would  shoot  us  down  like 
dogs  if  we  should  give  them  half  a  chance." 

Securely  bound  the  three  captives  were  led 
back  the  way  they  had  come,  through  inquisi 
tive  crowds  of  jeering  soldiers.  The  news  of 
the  capture  and  the  reasons  for  it  spread 
rapidly  before  them.  The  guards  commanded 
by  the  vice-consul  had  great  difficulty  in 
bringing  them  alive  to  their  prison  in  Mariel. 
The  infuriated  soldiers  would  have  torn  them 
limb  from  limb. 


144  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  squalid  prison  was  a  relief  after  this 
nerve-racking  ordeal.  The  guards,  although 
saving  them  from  fatal  bodily  injury,  could 
not  shield  them  from  the  vicious  blows,  taunts 
and  insults  showered  on  them  from  all  sides. 
If  it  had  not  been  for  the  fear  Juarez  had  for 
General  Ruiz,  he  would  gladly  have  given 
them  up  to  these  wild  beasts. 

They  were  indeed  in  a  sorry  plight  as  they 
were  roughly  pushed  into  a  cell  of  the  prison 
and  the  heavy  oaken  door  closed  loudly  be 
hind  them. 

The  lads  were  stunned.  But  a  half-hour 
ago,  they  were  free  men,  enjoying  their  pre 
cious  liberty  in  the  bright  world  outside ; 
full  of  boyish  enthusiasm  for  their  discoveries. 
Now  they  were  held  captive  by  a  cruel  tyrant 
who  hated  their  race  and  to  whom  they  had 
given  good  cause.  He  might,  without  a 
qualm  of  feeling,  have  them  shot  as  spies. 
Their  country  was  powerless  to  help  them. 
In  undertaking  this  duty  they  had  relin 
quished  their  claim  upon  the  protection  of  the 
United  States. 

O'Neil  was  the  first  to  recover  from  these 
despondent  thoughts.  He  glanced  about  their 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  145: 

narrow  prison,  but  his  gaze  failed  to  discover 
aught  encouraging,  so  it  returned  and  rested 
compassionately  on  the  two  lads. 

They  had  thrown  themselves  full  length  on 
the  rude  benches  that  lined  the  walls  of  their 
cell  and  had  given  themselves  up  to  melan 
choly  reflections. 

"  It  won't  do,  sir,"  O'Neil  said,  appealingly, 
to  Phil,  as  the  young  man  looked  up  with  an 
expression  of  utter  dejection  ;  "  you  mustn't 
give  in,  Mr.  Perry ;  we  ain't  dead  yet,  and 
what's  more,  sir,  we  ain't  a  going  to  be,  either. 
Mrs.  O'Neil's  son  John  has  been  in  as  tight 
places  before  and  has  come  out  with  a  whole 

hide Which  is  more  than  he  is  going  to 

do  this  time,"  he  added  with  a  grin,  showing 
a  deep  cut  in  his  thigh.  "That  little  dago 
that  I  knocked  down  poked  his  bayonet  in 
there." 

In  a  moment  the  boys  were  all  interest,  for 
getting  their  own  troubles  in  their  anxiety  for 
their  wounded  companion. 

Phil  pulled  a  first-aid  bandage  from  his 
pocket  and  held  it  up  in  triumph. 

"  They  took  everything  else  from  me," 
he  exclaimed  ;  "  your  new  revolver,  too,  Syd." 


146  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Yes,  and  the  first  time  we  carried  them," 
Sydney  answered  ruefully,  as  they  made  the 
boatswain's  mate  bare  his  wound,  which  they 
washed  and  dressed  carefully. 

They  had  hardly  finished  their  solicitous 
attentions  when  the  door  of  the  cell  was  un 
locked  and  flung  open  :  Colonel  Juarez  ap 
peared. 

He  stood  in  the  doorway,  his  arms  folded,  a 
cruel  smile  curling  his  weak  mouth. 

"You  defeated  me  once,"  he  jeered,  "but  I 
shall  see  that  you  will  never  get  a  chance 
again." 

The  crestfallen  lads  only  stared.  They 
could  find  no  voice  to  answer.  The  hatred 
in  his  eyes  appalled  them. 

"  No  doubt  you  believed  yourselves  very 
clever,"  he  continued,  irritated  at  the  silence 
of  his  hearers,  "  but  if  it  will  make  you  feel 
any  better,  I  can  tell  you  that  your  brilliant 
work  has  but  delayed  us.  We  shall  possess  the 
arms  soon  enough." 

Both  lads  were  startled  at  this  intelligence. 
Could  it  be  true?  Phil  could  not  conceive 
how  Lazar  would  have  the  audacity  to  delib 
erately  allow  the  arms  to  be  taken.  Where 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  147 

were  Marshall  and  Morrison  ?  Then  he  realized 
that  they  were  in  ignorance  of  the  true  char 
acter  of  their  superior  officer.  They  would 
suspect  nothing.  Why  had  he  not  put  them 
on  their  guard  ? 

"  I  tell  you  this,"  Juarez  added,  after  a 
pause  to  permit  them  to  grasp  the  full  mean 
ing  of  his  words,  and  to  gloat  over  the  lad's 
discomfiture,  "  because  dead  men  tell  no 
tales.  To-morrow  you  will  be  tried  by  drum 
head  court  martial,"  and  shrugging  his 
shoulders,  "  I  am  the  president  of  the  court." 

Phil  was  about  to  reply  when  he  saw  how 
futile  speech  would  be.  The  man  had  come 
to  taunt  them.  Silence  was  their  best  course. 

Seeing  that  his  victims  could  not  be  moved, 
he  turned  and  left  them. 

They  heard  his  voice  in  the  hallway  loudly 
instructing  the  guards  : 

"  If  the  Americans  attempt  to  escape,  shoot 
to  kill." 

"  Do  you  believe  Lazar  has  given  up  the 
guns  ?  "  Sydney  questioned  as  Juarez's  steps 
died  away,  forgetting  the  dire  threat  in  his 
anxiety  for  their  cause. 

"  I  fear  Juarez  speaks  the  truth,"  Phil  an- 


148  A  UNITED  STATES 

swered  dejectedly  ;  "  I  blame  myself  for  not 
having  cautioned  Marshall." 

"  No,  you  shouldn't  do  that,"  said  Sydney  ; 
"  as  things  have  turned  out,  it  would  have 
been  wiser.  But  how  were  you  to  know  ?  It 
seems  incredible  that  a  naval  officer,  even  if 
he  is  a  scoundrel,  would  take  such  a  risk." 

"  A  man  of  Lazar's  character  will  stoop  to 
any  depths  for  money,"  exclaimed  Phil,  "  and 
you  can  be  sure  that  the  sum  promised  him  by 
Juarez  is  large." 

"  But  his  commission  in  the  navy,"  Sydney 
persisted,  unconvinced.  "  If  this  crime  is  dis 
covered  he  will  at  least  be  dismissed  the  serv 
ice." 

"  A  man  of  his  unnatural  talents  and  in 
triguing  nature  soon  finds  but  little  scope  for 
himself  in  the  service,  where  all  are  poor  but 
honorable,"  he  answered.  "  No  doubt  he  has 
contemplated  leaving  the  service  and  the  fear 
of  detection,  therefore,  has  no  influence  with 
him.  As  for  dismissal,  that  would  be  out  of 
the  question  ;  the  crime  of  which  we  know  he 
is  guilty  would  be  nearly  impossible  to  prove 
before  a  naval  court  martial.  Our  evidence 
is  only  hearsay,  and  might  not  convict  him." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  149 

"  Our  evidence,"  Sydney  commenced  ;  then 
the  life  died  out  of  his  voice  as  he  added, 
"  we  may  never  be  able  to  give  it." 

The  failing  light  of  day,  entering  the  solitary 
window  above  their  heads,  soon  left  the  pris 
oners  in  darkness.  The  lamp  used  by  their 
guards  outside  their  cell  door  shed  a  faint 
glimmer  through  the  cracks  of  the  stout  oaken 
panel. 

The  terrible  mental  strain  which  the  Amer 
icans  were  enduring  gave  them  scant  desire 
to  sleep,  and  as  they  tossed  restlessly  on  the 
damp  floor  of  their  cell  their  predicament 
gradually  dawned  upon  them  with  startling 
force. 

O'Neil  alone  was  cheerful ;  his  indomitable 
spirit  saved  the  lads  from  sinking  too  deep  in 
the  slough  of  despond. 

Phil  lay  awake  long  after  his  companions 
had  forgotten  their  troubles  in  sleep.  The 
bitter  thought  of  failure  was  even  keener  to 
him  than  the  dread  of  death.  The  watch 
word  of  his  profession  was  "  death  with  honor." 
Why  should  he  fear  to  die  in  his  country's 
service  ?  It  was  the  end  that  all  true  naval 
men  sought.  Yet,  it  was  hard  to  die  so  young 


150  A  UNITED  STATES 

and  when  there  was  so  much  to  live  for. 
Then  the  thought  of  his  two  companions 
filled  his  cup  of  sorrow  brimful.  He  cried 
out  against  a  fate  so  cruel.  If  they  all  could 
but  die  fighting,  but  to  be  shot  down  by  these 
miserable  half-civilized  soldiers,  as  they  might 
shoot  so  many  dogs,  was  more  than  his  youth 
ful  spirit  could  bear.  He  dropped  off  finally 
into  a  profound  sleep,  and  when  he  awakened 
the  next  morning,  he  found  the  door  of  their 
cell  open  and  the  guards  ready  to  take  them 
before  the  military  tribunal. 

Hands  bound  behind  their  backs,  they  were 
marched  through  the  streets  of  the  town.  The 
natives  taunted  them  with  vile  epithets,  but 
kept  themselves  at  a  distance,  for  which  favor 
the  captives  were  grateful. 

After  a  short  march  they  were  led  into  a 
court  room.  Here  they  were  unbound  and 
told  roughly  to  sit  down. 

A  few  moments  elapsed,  then  three  officers, 
led  by  Colonel  Juarez,  appeared  and  took  seats 
at  a  table  in  front  of  the  Americans. 

The  room  was  empty  save  for  the  court, 
the  guard  and  the  prisoners. 

Colonel  Juarez  arose  and  read  in  a  monoto- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  151 

nous  voice  from  a  paper  in  his  hand.  Phil 
understood  it  to  be  the  order  of  General  Ruiz, 
convening  the  court  for  their  trial  as  spies. 
Juarez  sat  down  in  silence. 

"  What  have  you  to  say  in  your  behalf 
before  we  pass  sentence  ?  "  he  asked  coldly, 
turning  to  Phil  as  spokesman. 

Phil's  throat  was  dry.  He  tried  to  speak 
but  could  not  find  voice. 

Juarez  turned  hastily  to  his  companions. 
Each  nodded  his  head  in  assent ;  the  trial  was 
finished  and  the  accused  men  found  guilty. 

Hot  blood  rushed  to  Phil's  face  as  he  com 
prehended  the  awful  import  of  this  hasty  ver 
dict. 

"  You  dare  not  carry  out  this  sentence,"  he 
cried  wildly,  jumping  to  his  feet.  "  It  will 
be  murder.  We  are  not  spies.  Our  country 
is  not  at  war  with  yours.  True,  we  are  here 
to  find  out  the  strength  of  your  forces,  but  it 
is  not  to  take  this  information  to  your  enemy. 
If  you  do  this  monstrous  deed  you  will  place 
yourself  beyond  the  pale  of  civilization" — his 
indignation  choked  him.  "  I  claim  my  right 
of  appeal  to  General  Ruiz,"  he  demanded 
fiercely. 


152  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  court  sat  unmoved.  On  Juarez's 
features  was  a  grim  expression  of  enjoy 
ment. 

"  Take  them  away,"  he  ordered,  rising  to 
dismiss  the  court. 

As  the  guards  advanced  upon  the  prisoners, 
a  voice  from  the  door  stilled  the  room.  The 
officers  of  the  court  clicked  their  heels  to 
gether  at  "  attention,"  and  the  guards  brought 
their  rifles  quickly  to  the  "present."  Turn 
ing,  Phil's  gaze  encountered  the  steely  eyes  of 
General  Ruiz. 

The  insurgent  commander  walked  calmly 
forward,  motioning  the  guards  away. 

"  Your  verdict,  Colonel  Juarez  ?  "  he  de 
manded. 

"  Guilty.  To  be  shot  to-morrow  at  sun 
rise,"  the  colonel  replied  grimly. 

Then  turning  toward  the  Americans,  he 
surveyed  them  critically,  a  cunning  gleam  in 
his  sharp  black  eyes. 

"  You  may  speak,"  he  said  condescendingly, 
dismissing  the  court  with  an  eloquent  gesture, 
and  waving  back  peremptorily  the  awaiting 
guards. 

Phil    endeavored    to    collect   his   scattered 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  153 

wits.  He  knew  that  his  appeal  would  be 
their  last  chance  for  life. 

"  Well,"  the  general  demanded  impatiently, 
"  be  quick,  I  have  but  little  time." 

Phil  felt  his  body  break  into  a  cold  per 
spiration.  His  heart  sank  within  him.  He 
saw  his  words  must  fall  on  barren  soil.  The 
whole  attitude  of  this  powerful,  cruel  leader 
was  unfriendly. 

"  General  Ruiz,"  he  commenced,  intense 
earnestness  in  his  young  face,  "  you  must  not 
do  this  terrible  deed.  We  have  not  inten 
tionally  done  you  harm.  Our  mission  in 
your  camp  is  not  one  of  war,  but  only  dip 
lomatic  in  character.  I  cannot  tell  you  its 
nature.  Believe  me  when  I  say  we  are  inno 
cent  of  crime  against  the  laws  of  war.  We 
are  not  your  enemies." 

"  You  are  not  my  enemies  !  "  exclaimed  the 
leader  savagely,  his  voice  rising  in  anger. 
"  Then  why  did  you  capture  my  machine 
guns  ?  Explain  that,  if  you  can  ?  " 

Phil  was  silent.  He  could  not  tell  this 
man  the  reason  ;  to  do  so  would  betray  his 
country's  policy. 

"  Ah,  you  see  your  arguments  are  not  con- 


154  A  UNITED  STATES 

vincing,"  he  cried  triumphantly.  "  Must  I 
allow  those  who  are  not  my  enemies  to  cap 
ture  my  property,  then  spy  on  my  military 
movements  ?  Shall  I  be  powerless  to  lay  by 
the  heels  such  fellows,  and  shoot  them  as  they 
richly  deserve  ?  " 

Then  a  thought  seemed  to  strike  him  ;  he 
led  Phil  away  out  of  ear-shot  of  his  com 
panions. 

"  I  shall  grant  a  reprieve  under  one  con 
dition." 

"  And  that  is  ? "  exclaimed  the  boy,  his 
hopes  rising. 

"  That  you  cause  my  guns  to  be  delivered 
inside  my  lines,"  he  answered. 

The  lad's  hopes  vanished.  That  he  could 
not  do.  He  had  rather  die  first.  He  shook 
his  head  determinedly. 

"  I  can't  do  that,"  he  replied,  "  even  if  I 
would." 

The  general,  misinterpreting  the  meaning 
implied  in  the  boy's  words,  hastily  explained  : 

"  The  arms  are  this  minute  in  La  Boca,  but 
the  government  and  your  ship  are  so  vigilant 
that  I  dare  not  risk  attempting  to  bring  them 
here  by  water,  and  by  land  is  quite  out  of  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  155 

question.  If  I  release  you,  you  could  find  a 
safe  way  to  evade  detection  under  the  protec 
tion  of  your  flag." 

The  price  was  tempting  to  the  despairing- 
American  youth  :  three  lives  for  a  cargo  of 
arms,  but  the  vileness  of  the  act  which  he 
must  commit  to  obtain  this  reward  was  repul 
sively  horrible.  Phil  tried  hard  to  control 
his  indignation.  He  felt  that  to  show  this 
man  how  much  he  despised  him  and  his 
clemency  would  only  hasten  their  end. 

Ruiz  believed  the  lad  was  wavering. 

"  If  I  release  you  now,  by  to-night  you  will 
be  on  board  the  '  Connecticut '  and  by  to 
morrow  I  shall  receive  the  guns  and  enter  the 
city  at  the  head  of  my  victorious  army." 

Phil  thought  quickly.  Here  might  be  an 
opportunity  to  gain  for  America  the  grati 
tude  of  this  insurgent  leader.  If  Ruiz  was  to 
win  the  city  and  set  himself  up  as  dictator, 
this  act  could  be  used  with  great  force  to  de 
feat  the  intrigues  of  Juarez  and  La  Fitte  and 
Company.  But  could  he  depend  upon  earn 
ing  this  man's  gratitude  ?  Would  he  not  for 
get  and  vent  his  venom  on  the  Americans 
notwithstanding  ?  The  more  he  thought  the 


156  A  UNITED  STATES 

more  complex  the  situation  appeared.  What 
did  he  know  of  the  strength  of  Ruiz's  ene 
mies  ?  Phil  had  heard  rumors  that  they  were 
negotiating  for  war  vessels  ;  with  these  against 
them,  the  insurgents  could  only  hope  to  win 
by  gaining  the  crews  of  the  ships  to  their  side 
by  golden  bribes ;  if  they  remained  loyal  to 
the  government,  Ruiz  would  not  dare  enter 
the  city.  The  war-ships  could  train  their 
guns  on  his  army  and  force  him  to  evacuate. 

"  I  shall  give  you  until  sunrise  to-morrow," 
the  general  added  sternly,  "  then  if  you  agree, 
I  shall  have  you  set  free,  but  shall  retain  your 
companions  as  hostages  for  your  good  faith 
until  the  arms  are  in  my  hands.  If  not  " — a 
sinister  smile  and  an  expressive  shrug  of  his 
thin  shoulders  completed  his  meaning. 

The  Americans  were  led  back  to  their  cell 
and  as  the  door  closed  upon  them  again,  Syd 
ney  turned  anxiously  to  Phil. 

"  What  did  he  say?  "  he  questioned. 

Phil  told  his  eager  companions  the  one 
chance  of  escape  from  the  fate  awaiting  them. 

"  We  can't  accept  it,"  Phil  concluded.  "  It 
will  look  as  if  we  were  afraid  to  die,  and  to  do 
this  we  shall  become  Lazar's  accomplices,  for 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  157 

I  feel  assured  he  has  allowed  the  arms  to  be 
stolen  from  the  legation." 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  O'Neil  interrupted,  "  I  know 
these  dagos,  having  shipped  with  them  both 
afloat  and  ashore.  They  ain't  going  to  shoot 
us.  It's  a  bluff — stage  acting.  You  stand 
pat  to-morrow  morning.  They  may  line  us 
up  against  a  wall  and  point  their  guns  at  us, 
but  they  ain't  a  going  to  shoot.  They  know 
if  they  did  the  United  States  government 
would  blow  the  whole  blamed  country  out  of 
existence." 

The  ring  of  truth  in  the  sailor's  words 
forcibly  impressed  the  two  lads.  Could  this 
be  true?  Had  they  been  tortured  to  make 
them  betray  themselves  ?  But  the  cruel  look 
in  the  face  of  Ruiz  when  he  turned  and  left 
them  only  a  short  time  before,  surely  did  not 
bear  out  this  interpretation  of  their  position. 

"  I  hope  you  are  right,  O'Neil,"  Phil  said, 
looking  gratefully  at  the  cheerful  sailorman, 
"  but  I  fear  these  men  are  capable  of  carrying 
out  their  threat." 

Escape  was  impossible — they  were  as  secure 
in  this  prison  as  if  they  were  in  the  old 
Bastile.  The  footfall  of  their  guards  told  of 


158  A  UNITED  STATES 

their  vigilance.  The  heavy  oaken  door  was 
doubly  barred  and  locked  on  the  outside. 

Their  midday  meal  lay  upon  the  floor  un- 
tasted  by  the  two  lads.  Food  would  have 
choked  them ;  but  O'Neil  ate  as  calmly  as  if 
he  were  aboard  ship. 

The  sounds  of  life  outside  came  faintly  to 
their  ears.  They  heard  the  laughter  of  chil 
dren  playing  in  the  streets,  and  the  rattle  of 
military  accoutrements,  as  soldiers  marched 
along.  The  heat  of  their  dungeon  was  almost 
unbearable  and  they  suffered  from  lack  of 
water  to  wash  their  bruised  bodies. 

Suddenly  they  heard  the  sounds  of  alarmed 
humanity  ;  startled  cries,  a  hurrying  of  many 
feet,  and  the  clang  of  iron  shod  hoofs  upon  the 
hard  earth. 

O'Neil  listened  intently.  Then  he  sprang 
to  the  window  near  the  ceiling  of  their  cell, 
catching  the  sill  with  his  fingers  and  drawing 
himself  up  until  he  could  peer  through  the 
iron  bars. 

"  What  is  it?  "  cried  both  lads  in  alarm. 

"  There's  something  going  on  to  seaward," 
he  answered  ;  "  the  people  are  running  about 
like  chickens  without  heads,  and  the  soldiers 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  159 

are  moving  inland.  I  wish  we  could  get  a 
sight " 

His  next  word  was  lost  in  a  heavy  crash 
and  sharp  explosion  that  seemed  to  shake  the 
building  to  its  foundation. 

"  Is  it  an  earthquake?"  cried  Phil,  ex 
citedly. 

"  It  sounded  to  me  like  a  six-inch  shell," 
exclaimed  O'Neil.  "  I  ain't  heard  one  so 
close  since  Santiago,  but  I  recognize  the  tune." 

Explosion  after  explosion  followed  in  rapid 
succession. 

"  The  streets  are  deserted,"  shouted  O'Neil 
above  the  roar  of  crashing  buildings  and  ex 
ploding  shells.  "  It's  a  bombardment.  There's 
a  ship  or  two  pumping  shell  into  the  town 
from  the  sea." 

The  sailor  slid  down  from  his  position  of 
vantage  and  pointed  to  the  door. 

"  Our  guards  have  run  for  it.  We  must 
break  down  that  door." 

The  three  Americans,  simultaneously,  flung 
themselves  against  the  stout  oak,  but  it  held 
firmly  despite  their  united  efforts.  They 
stood  in  the  middle  of  their  cell,  the  perspira 
tion  pouring  from  their  exhausted  bodies. 


i6o  A  UNITED  STATES 

A  crash  louder  and  sharper  rang  in  their 
ears.  Then  an  explosion  that  threw  them 
violently  to  the  floor.  The  suffocating  fumes 
of  the  exploded  shell  filled  their  nostrils. 

But  yet  another  and  more  sinister  smell 
reached  them,  which  froze  the  hot  blood  in 
their  veins ;  it  was  the  smoke  of  a  burning 
building. 

Their  prison  was  afire.  If  the  door  held 
they  would  all  be  burned  alive. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE    SCENE    CHANGES 

THEIR  terrible  plight  spurred  them  on  to  re 
newed  efforts  to  break  down  the  heavy  door. 
The  iron  bolts  were  bent  under  their  frenzied 
onslaughts,  and  the  stifling  smoke  became 
thicker. 

The  ominous  sounds  of  bursting  shell  grew 
louder  and  more  frequent. 

"  They  are  shelling  this  very  building,"  ex 
claimed  O'Neil,  as  he  gathered  himself  for  a 
spring  at  the  resisting  oak. 

The  two  lads  were  almost  in  a  panic.  The 
situation  seemed  indeed  hopeless.  The  crack 
ling  of  the  approaching  fire  was  very  near ; 
so  close  that  the  air  of  the  cell  was  becoming 
too  hot  to  breathe. 

Then  an  explosion,  that  seemed  to  the  anx 
ious  prisoners  as  if  the  building  itself  had  been 
destroyed,  sent  them  reeling  to  the  farthest 
limits  of  their  narrow  prison.  They  clutched 
the  hot  wall  for  support.  The  mingled  smoke 

161  - 


162  A  UNITED  STATES 

of  powder  and  burning  wood  was  so  thick  that 
they  could  see  but  a  few  feet.  Phil  felt  a 
sharp  pain  and  glanced  down  with  horror  to 
see  blood  flowing  down  his  leg.  He  knew  he 
had  been  wounded  ;  he  did  not  know  how 
seriously. 

He  peered  through  the  thick  smoke  for  his 
companions.  Sydney  was  near  him,  his 
clothes  torn,  showing  the  effects  of  the  ex 
plosion.  O'Neil  was  not  visible.  Phil  groped 
through  the  suffocating  smoke  toward  the 
door.  He  heard  a  crash  of  splintered  wrood 
accompanied  by  a  glad  cry  from  the  sailor, 
and  then  the  cell  was  lit  up  by  a  red  glow  of 
fire  through  the  hole  made  by  the  boatswain's 
mate  in  the  oaken  door.  O'Neil  stood,  peer 
ing  through  the  breach  ;  the  explosion  of  the 
shell  had  started,  and  he  had,  with  his  pow 
erful  hands,  enlarged  it.  His  glance  was 
calm,  but  the  sight,  to  Phil,  was  calculated  to 
unnerve  the  stoutest  heart.  The  hall  outside 
was  a  veritable  furnace,  and  it  was  their  only 
road  to  safety.  They  were  surely  lost.  How 
could  they  pass  through  this  scorching  heat 
alive  ? 

"  Come,  it's  our  only  chance,"  cried  O'Neil. 


THE  THREE  PRISONERS  RUSHED 
2      THROUGH  THE  FLAMES 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  163 

"  It's  sure  death  here.  The  building  may  fall 
at  any  minute." 

Singly  the  Americans  crawled  from  the 
comparative  cool  of  their  cell  to  the  hall, 
through  the  breach  in  the  door.  The  door  of 
the  building  had  been  left  open  by  the  retreat 
ing  guards,  and  showed  white  through  the  red 
glare  of  the  flames. 

Hand  in  hand  the  three  prisoners  rushed 
through  the  scorching  flames.  The  red 
tongues  reached  out  on  all  sides  toward  their 
retreating  forms. 

A  second  afterward  they  were  all  buried 
in  sand  up  to  their  necks  in  order  to  quench 
the  smouldering  fire  in  their  clothes. 

"  I  thought  our  numbers  were  made  *  that 
time,"  exclaimed  O'Neil  when  they  had  suc 
ceeded  in  extinguishing  the  flames.  "  It  was 
that  shell  what  done  the  business.  I'd  like 
to  see  the  man  who  fired  it.  I'd  give  him 
my  month's  pay.  The  shell  exploded  just  on 
the  outside  of  the  door  and  splintered  it  so 

1  "  I  thought  our  numbers  were  made. "  Each  officer  and  man  in 
the  navy  is  denoted  by  a  number,  and  when  one  ia  called  by  a 
higher  authority  his  number  is  called  or  "  made  "  by  signal  flags. 
O'Neil's  meaning  is  that  a  Higher  Authority  had  "  made  "  their 
numbers. 


164  A  UNITED  STATES 

that  I  could  get  my  hands  on  the  pieces. 
But  come,  this  is  none  too  safe,  we  must  get 
to  the  seashore." 

With  shells  exploding  over  their  heads  they 
ran  pell-mell  through  the  deserted  town  to 
the  beach. 

As  a  view  of  the  sea  flashed  before  the  lads, 
they  cried  out  in  excitement. 

The  dark  hull  of  a  war  vessel  steamed  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  off  shore.  They  saw  the 
bright  flashes  from  her  gun  ports  followed  by 
a  harsh  screech  of  shell  and  then  a  crash  and 
explosion  which  seemed  to  be  at  their  very 
feet. 

O'Neil  looked  about  him. 

"  We  must  get  to  that  fish  trap,"  he  cried, 
pointing  to  a  cluster  of  bamboo  piles  driven 
under  the  water,  their  ends  appearing  above 
the  surface.  "  We'll  be  safe  there  until  we  can 
signal  the  dago  war-ship  ;  do  you  see  the  flag 
of  the  republic  flying  from  her  trucks?" 

Wading  and  swimming  the  Americans 
made  their  way  to  the  fish  trap.  It  was  just 
at  the  end  of  the  coral  reef,  and  when  the 
vessel  had  finished  the  bombardment  they 
would  surely  be  seen  and  rescued. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  165 

From  the  hills  back  of  the  town  came  a 
report  of  cannon  and  a  shell  struck  the  water 
near  the  cruiser. 

"  Our  friend  the  artillery  lieutenant,"  ex 
claimed  Phil,  as  the  brown  vapor  from  the 
exploded  shrapnel  appeared  again  in  the  air 
above  the  cruiser.  "  He  knows  her  range 
too.  She  is  turning.  I  wonder  if  they  have 


seen  us." 


"  They'll  see  us  in  a  minute,"  answered 
O'Neil  grimly,  as  he  stripped  himself  of  his 
white  undershirt  and  drew  from  the  sand 
a  long  bamboo  pole.  "  But  our  artillery 
friends  ashore  may  see  us  also." 

"  If  they  do,  we  must  swim  for  it,"  said 
O'Neil  calmly,  tying  his  shirt  on  to  the  pole 
and  raising  the  conspicuous  flag  above  his 
head. 

"  They  see  us  ;  I  mean  the  cruiser,"  cried 
Sydney  joyfully ;  "  she  is  heading  toward 


us." 


The  cruiser  had  turned  in  shore  ;  her  battery 
was  now  silent,  but  the  spiteful  piece  of 
artillery  ashore  sent  its  bursting  shrapnel 
ever  nearer  the  approaching  vessel. 

"  Get  under  the  water,  quick,"  cried  O'Neil, 


166  A  UNITED  STATES 

grasping  the  lads  and  drawing  them  down 
with  him. 

Through  the  water  the  noise  of  an  explo 
sion  above  them  came  muffled  to  their  ears. 
When  they  rose  to  the  surface,  the  agitated 
water  about  them  told  the  story  only  too 
plainly.  O'Neil's  fears  had  been  realized. 
The  enemy  had  also  seen  them. 

It  was  fortunate  for  our  friends  that  they 
were  all  good  swimmers.  They  must  leave 
the  protection  of  their  bamboo  piling  and 
swim  toward  the  approaching  man-of-war. 
With  but  their  heads  above  water  they  would 
afford  but  a  small  target  for  their  friend  the 
lieutenant  of  artillery,  but  if  he  was  fortunate 
with  his  aim  once  it  would  be  all  over  with 
the  Americans. 

Leaving  their  insecure  resting  place  they 
swam  slowly  out  toward  the  cruiser,  which 
had  now  stopped  and  seemed  to  be  awaiting 
them. 

The  cool  freshness  of  the  water  put  new 
strength  into  the  swimmers.  O'Neil  swam 
on  his  back,  his  eyes  turned  toward  the  shore. 
As  soon  as  the  red  flash  appeared  he  com 
manded  his  companions  to  duck,  and  thus 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  167 

escaping  the  shower  of  bursting  shrapnel, 
they  reached  the  side  of  the  cruiser  in  safety. 

Willing  hands  helped  them  aboard  and  up 
the  gangway  of  the  war-ship,  which  now 
steamed  away,  hurling  a  parting  broadside 
into  the  deserted  and  burning  town. 

The  Americans  indeed  presented  a  sorry 
spectacle  ;  with  clothes  torn  nearly  off  their 
bodies,  smoke-begrimed,  and  burned  painfully 
in  many  places  ;  but  their  new  found  friends 
on  board  received  them  with  great  courtesy 
and  cheerfully  supplied  all  their  needs. 

In  but  a  short  time  their  wounds  and  burns, 
which  were  found  to  be  only  slight,  were 
carefully  attended  to  by  the  ship's  surgeon, 
and  they  appeared  on  deck  with  the  only 
clothes  available,  those  of  the  government 
officers. 

Captain  Garcia,  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  cruiser,  insisted  that  the  lads  should 
live  with  him  in  his  cabin,  and  O'Neil  was  to 
be  given  a  place  among  the  officers  them 
selves. 

After  the  experiences  of  the  last  few  hours 
all  three  were  exhausted,  and  the  captain,  with 
tactful  generosity,  refrained  from  asking  their 


i68  A  UNITED  STATES 

story  until  the  rescued  men  could  be  re 
freshed  with  a  bath,  clean  clothes  and  a 
bountiful  dinner. 

Phil  and  Sydney  lay  back  in  the  commo 
dious  cabin  of  the  war-ship  and,  in  spite  of 
their  eagerness  to  hear  the  latest  news  from 
La  Boca,  fell  into  a  profound  sleep. 

It  was  not  until  late  in  the  afternoon  that 
the  lads  were  awakened  by  Captain  Garcia. 

"  I  hope  you  are  feeling  refreshed,"  he 
inquired  kindly.  "  I  am  delighted  to  have 
you  with  us  for  a  few  days  until  I  can  take 
you  back  to  your  own  ship." 

"  For  a  few  days,"  Phil  exclaimed  in 
astonishment ;  "  aren't  you  going  back  now  to 
La  Boca  ?  " 

"  I  am  sorry  if  I  seem  to  carry  you  away 
against  your  wishes,"  he  replied  courteously, 
"  but  I  am  sailing  under  very  imperative 
orders  from  my  president  to  seek  the  rebel 
cruisers  at  Rio  Grande.  It  was  but  by  acci 
dent  that  I  went  into  Mariel.  I  saw  a  great 
many  soldiers  of  the  enemy  drawn  up  there 
and  took  the  opportunity  to  worry  them,  and 
at  the  same  time  give  my  gunners  an  oppor 
tunity  to  test  our  new  guns."  He  stopped  and 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  169 

inquired,  "  But  tell  me  how  you  and  your 
two  companions  came  to  be  there  ;  was  I  the 
means  of  liberating  you  ?  I  have  not  heard 
as  yet  your  experiences." 

Phil  had  forgotten  that  the  captain  had  re 
ceived  but  little  information  as  to  the  reasons 
why  they  were  at  the  fish  trap,  from  which 
they  had  swum  to  safety.  He  at  once  told 
their  story  :  of  their  capture,  the  trial  and 
the  verdict,  and  then  of  the  escape. 

"  We  owe  our  lives  to  you,  Captain  Garcia," 
he  added  gratefully.  "  If  your  shell  had  not 
exploded  in  front  of  the  door  of  our  prison,  we 
should  have  been  burned  alive,  and  if  you  had 
not  stopped  to  bombard  Mariel  we  would  still 
be  there  looking  forward  to  being  shot  to 
morrow  morning." 

"  I  am  indeed  thankful  that  I  have  been 
able  to  serve  those  who  prevented  the  cargo  of 
machine  guns  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
our  enemy,"  the  captain  answered  smilingly. 

"  How  do  you  know  we  did  that?"  cried 
Phil  in  surprise. 

"  The  story  has  reached  our  president," 
Captain  Garcia  responded,  "  and  he  is  very 
grateful  to  the  Americans.  Now,"  he  added, 


iyo 


A  UNITED  STATES 


"  our  launches  are  watching  every  exit  by 
water,  so  General  Ruiz  finds  himself  effectively 
cut  off  from  his  base  of  supplies." 

Phil  remembered  the  machine  guns  were 
not  in  the  legation  and  quickly  his  thoughts 
turned  to  his  uncompleted  mission.  The 
pulsations  of  the  engines  showed  the  vessel 
was  steaming  away  rapidly  from  those  who 
should  have  his  report  at  the  earliest 
moment. 

"  Could  you  not  take  us  back  to  La  Boca?  " 
he  asked  anxiously.  "  I  have  secret  informa 
tion  which  must  be  received  immediately  by 
my  captain  on  board  the  '  Connecticut.' ' 

"  That  is  impossible,"  replied  Captain 
Garcia;  "we  are  over  a  hundred  miles  from 
La  Boca,  but  if  you  will  trust  the  message  to 
me  I  can  send  it  safely  by  wireless  tele 
graph." 

Phil's  face  lit  up  with  pleasure. 

"  I  shall  get  the  message  ready  at  once,"  he 
answered  much  relieved.  "  You  will  pardon 
me  if  I  send  it  in  cipher?"  he  asked;  "I 
should  not  like  to  divulge  its  import  to  even 
our  rescuer." 

Phil  and  Sydney  put  the  message,  that  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  171 

former  framed,  in  the  cipher  code  of  the 
United  States.  Our  lads  fortunately  had 
been  given  the  key  word  by  Captain  Taylor 
before  they  started  on  their  perilous  mission. 
Without  this  secret  word  the  message  could 
not  be  read  by  outsiders,  so  although  the 
boys  knew  that  all  the  foreign  ships  in  port 
would  read  this  message  to  the  "  Connecticut," 
none  but  Captain  Taylor  could  find  it  in 
telligible  ;  to  the  others  it  would  be  a  mean 
ingless  confusion  of  unpronounceable  words. 
The  message  told  the  captain  of  the  battle-ship 
that  the  machine  guns  were  no  longer  in  the 
legation  but  concealed  in  the  city  of  La  Boca, 
and  that  the  insurgent  army  were  strong  and 
well  equipped  with  modern  rifles  and 
artillery ;  that  they  alone  lacked  machine 
guns,  of  which  their  race  stood  in  great  dread  ; 
that  the  cruiser  "  Aquadores  "  was  on  its  way 
to  Rio  Grande  to  fight  the  enemy's  men-of- 
war,  and  that  they  were  on  board  and 
well. 

"  I  think  that  will  be  sufficient,  don't  you  ?  " 
Phil  asked  Sydney,  after  they  had  laboriously 
put  the  long  message  in  the  cipher  code. 

"  Yes,"  Sydney  replied,  "  unless  you  wish 


172  A  UNITED  STATES 

to  put  the  captain  on  his  guard  against  a 
traitor  in  the  legation." 

"  The  time  is  not  ripe  for  that  yet,"  Phil 
answered  promptly ;  "  we  must  wait  until 
the  evidence  against  him  is  overwhelming. 
Remember  Captain  Taylor  has  a  high  opinion 
of  Lazar  and  if  we  attempted  to  poison  his 
ear  against  him,  he  might,  even  though  he 
likes  us,  believe  that  we  had  formed  a  combi 
nation  against  the  ensign." 

"  Have  your  own  way,"  responded  Sydney, 
impatiently,  "  but  I  fear  by  the  time  we 
return  to  the  '  Connecticut '  all  the  damage 
that  he  is  capable  of  doing  will  be  done." 

"What  can  he  do  more,  Syd?"  Phil  ex 
claimed.  "  If  he  has  given  up  the  guns  he 
must  stop  there,  for  there  is  nothing  more 
that  he  can  do  that  will  injure  the  United 
States." 

The  message  completed  they  took  it  to 
Captain  Garcia. 

"  Come  to  the  wireless  room  with  me,"  re 
quested  the  captain,  "  and  we  shall  see  it 
started  on  its  long  journey." 

Phil  was  delighted  at  the  opportunity.  He 
had  always  been  interested  in  this  wonderful 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  173 

method  of  telegraphy,  but  had  not  been  able 
to  make  as  complete  a  study  of  it  as  he  would 
have  desired,  owing  to  his  time  being  too  thor 
oughly  occupied  since  his  reporting  for  duty 
in  the  Atlantic  fleet. 

Sydney  also  was  included  in  the  invitation, 
and  the  two  lads  followed  Captain  Garcia  to 
the  little  compartment  in  which  the  delicate 
instruments  were  installed. 

The  operator,  a  bright-faced  foreigner,  stood 
up  civilly  as  the  three  entered,  and  took  the 
message  held  out  to  him  by  Captain  Garcia. 

"  Send  this  to  the  American  battle-ship,"  he 
ordered.  "  We  shall  remain  here  to  see  you 
manipulate  your  instruments." 

The  wireless  man  smiled  proudly  as  he  put 
his  hand  carelessly  on  his  sending  key. 

"What  is  her  call  letter?"  he  asked 
politely,  turning  to  Phil. 

"  A-D,"  the  lad  replied  promptly. 

The  switch  was  closed  and  the  whirring  of 
the  mercurial  motor  showed  the  expert  that 
all  was  ready  to  commence. 

The  man  closed  his  key  and  on  releasing  it 
a  bright  spark  jumped  across  the  spark  gap, 
charging  the  storage  jars  with  electrical  fluid 


174  A  UNITED  STATES 

of  a  high  tension.  The  lads  understood  that 
this  had  electrified  the  aerial  wire  leading  to 
the  main  truck  of  the  cruiser  and  a  wave  of 
electricity  had  been  started  on  its  journey 
through  space.  Again  and  again  in  long  and 
short  makes  and  breaks  the  key  was  pressed 
down  upon  its  platinum  contact.  A-D  in 
dots  and  dashes  was  sent  up  to  the  long  wire. 
After  a  minute  the  key  was  held  at  rest  and 
another  switch  was  thrown  in,  connecting  this 
same  wire  to  the  receiving  instruments.  All 
held  their  breath  in  expectancy  while  the 
operator  placed  his  telephone  receiver  to  his 
ear.  Phil  watched  the  man's  face  anxiously. 
He  saw  on  it  a  look  of  satisfaction.  Then  he 
saw  him  again  close  his  key,  press  it  down 
twice  in  acknowledgment,  then  glance  at  the 
paper  before  him. 

A  hundred  miles  away  the  aerial  wire  of 
the  "  Connecticut "  was  set  in  electrical  vi 
bration.  The  American  operator  below  the 
armored  deck  heard  an  even  but  indistinct 
buzz  in  his  telephone  receiver.  He  listened 
intently.  It  was  surely  his  own  call.  Who 
could  be  signaling  him.  He  must  be  sure,  for 
he  did  not  wish  to  interfere  with  the  messages 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  175 

among  the  foreign  war-ships.  No,  it  was  dis 
tinct  enough.  A-D,  A-D,  unceasingly.  He 
waited  until  the  noise  ceased,  then  quickly 
he  sent  out  his  acknowledgment,  turning  the 
rheostat  handle  for  high  tension,  for  he  knew 
the  sender  of  this  mysterious  call  was  at  a 
long  distance. 

"  I  have  her,  sefior  captain,"  the  operator 
of  the  "  Aquadores  "  reported  in  a  business 
like  voice  as  he  proceeded  to  send  the  cipher 
message  before  him. 

Phil  breathed  easier  after  the  last  acknowl 
edgment  had  been  received  from  the  "  Con 
necticut."  The  captain  in  but  a  few  minutes 
would  know  the  situation  as  well  as  if  they 
themselves  had  told  him  in  person. 

"  Now  that  this  is  off  our  minds,"  exclaimed 
Phil,  as  he  and  Sydney  walked  up  and  down 
outside  the  captain's  cabin,  "  I  believe  it  our 
duty  to  discover  how  strong  this  ship  is  for 
fighting  two  of  her  enemy's  vessels.  I  am 
delighted  to  be  here,  but  at  the  same  time  I 
don't  care  about  getting  killed,  or  what  might 
be  worse,  captured.  If  our  friend  Ruiz  gets 
us  in  his  power  again,  it  will  be  all  up  with 


us." 


176  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  ?  "  asked  Syd 
ney  excitedly.  "  I  wish  we  could  fight  her 
for  them." 

"  No,  that  we  couldn't  do  ;  but  we  are  surely 
justified  in  instructing  them  before  the  battle, 
and  during  the  battle  too,  for  we  can  satisfy 
our  conscience  by  the  plea  of  self-defense," 
answered  Phil,  regarding  closely  a  six-inch 
gun  near  him.  "  Look  at  their  guns  ;  they  are 
the  very  latest  pattern  and  have  two  telescope 
sights  each.  These  men  in  but  a  short  time 
could  be  trained  to  use  those  guns  in  a  way 
that  will  insure  a  victory." 

"  In  training  these  men  to  fight  a  successful 
battle,"  Sydney  returned,  thoroughly  inter 
ested,  "  we  shall  also  help  the  government  to 
keep  in  control  of  the  country.  Do  you 
know  for  what  reason  we  were  sent  to  the  in 
surgent  camp  ?  " 

"  To  find  out  their  strength,  of  course,"  an 
swered  Phil  promptly. 

"  Yes,  but  why  did  our  government  wish 
this  information?  The  reason  has  just  oc 
curred  to  me.  Some  of  the  foreign  govern 
ments  wish  to  give  the  insurgents  the  power 
of  belligerents.  This  the  United  States  does 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          177 

not  desire,  for  it  will  give  them  an  opportunity 
to  blockade  La  Boca  with  their  navy  and  thus 
ruin  our  shipping  with  that  port.  Our  mer 
chant  vessels,  and  also  those  of  foreigners,  may 
be  seized  at  the  will  of  these  outlaws,  and  this 
situation  would  be  disastrous.  La  Fitte  and 
Company  have  a  powerful  backing  in  two 
countries  of  Europe." 

"  Syd,  I  believe  you  have  hit  the  nail  on 
the  head.  Why  couldn't  I  have  thought  of 
that?  "  exclaimed  the  lad,  proud  of  his  com 
panion's  sagacity. 

"  Then,  there's  all  the  more  reason,"  Phil 
added,  "  why  we  should  do  our  utmost  to  see 
that  these  insurgent  war  vessels  never  have  an 
opportunity  to  blockade  La  Boca." 

11  That's  exactly  it,"  answered  Sydney 
promptly,  "  and  as  we  are  due  in  Rio  Grande 
in  two  days  more  we  should  start  right  in 
now." 

O'Neil  was  sent  for  and  told  of  our  lads' 
plans.  The  boatswain's  mate  was  greatly  de 
lighted. 

"  Give  me  two  days,  sir,"  he  cried  excit 
edly,  "  and  they'll  make  a  hundred  per  cent, 
of  hits  on  the  insurgent  hulks." 


178  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  three  Americans  walked  down  to  the 
battery  deck.  The  crew  were  at  quarters. 
Each  division  was  going  through  the  drill  at 
their  guns  in  a  perfunctory  manner. 

"  Look  at  'em,"  scoffed  O'Neil,  "  like  a  gang 
of  Italian  roustabouts  on  a  New  York  dock." 

"  After  this  drill  is  over,  O'Neil,"  Phil  con 
fided,  "  you  get  a  group  around  you  and  try 
to  interest  them  ;  then  get  them  at  the  gun 
and  explain  how  it  should  be  done.  You 
must  poke  fun  at  them  in  order  to  catch  their 
interest.  Then  we  shall  see  that  Captain 
Garcia  sees  you.  That  ought  to  open  his  eyes 
and  make  him  want  to  see  more.  Do  you 
see?" 

"  That  I  do,"  exclaimed  the  sailor,  "  and 
you  have  hit  the  character  of  these  dagos  as  if 
you'd  always  lived  among  'em." 

Phil  and  Sydney  strolled  quietly  up  the 
ladder  and  entered  the  captain's  cabin. 

Captain  Garcia  was  quite  willing  to  be 
drawn  into  conversation,  and  our  lads  diplo 
matically  led  the  topic  up  to  the  possibilities 
in  the  coming  engagement. 

"  As  you  have  been  so  frank  with  me,"  an 
swered  the  captain,  in  reply  to  an  inquiry  from 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  179 

Phil,  "  I  shall  tell  you  what  is  my  greatest 
anxiety."  He  lowered  his  voice  to  a  whisper. 
"  The  navy  to  a  man  were  in  sympathy  with 
the  rebels,  and  as  soon  as  General  Ruiz  began 
to  collect  his  army  and  threaten  the  capital, 
our  two  war  vessels,  the  '  Soledad  '  and  '  Bar- 
celo,'  with  a  torpedo  boat,  sailed  from  La  Boca 
for  Rio  Grande,  where  they  won  the  sympathy 
of  the  citizens  and  set  up  the  capital  of  the  re 
bellion.  My  men  are  wavering  in  their  al 
legiance  to  our  cause,  and  if  they  should  mu 
tiny  and  take  the  ship,  turning  it  over  to  the 
rebels,  our  cause  would  be  lost."  He  stopped 
speaking  and  glanced  seriously  at  his  eager 
listeners.  "  My  life  would  of  course  be  sac 
rificed.  I  should  either  be  shot  by  the  mu 
tineers  or  else  executed  by  our  enemy." 

This  was  indeed  a  startling  announcement 
for  our  lads.  A  mutiny  on  board  the  "  Aqua- 
dores "  might  be  as  serious  to  them  as  it 
would  be  for  her  captain. 

"  The '  Aquadores,' "  the  captain  continued  in 
the  same  low  tone,  "  is  a  powerful  ship.  She 
was  built  in  your  country  for  our  government, 
and  when  this  war  broke  out,  a  power  held 
her  at  the  dockyard,  although  I  had  my  crew 


i8o  A  UNITED  STATES 

on  board  and  was  ready  to  sail ;  it  was  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  I  could  not 
set  sail  until  your  country  was  satisfied  of  my 
honest  intentions.  She  is  more  than  a  match 
for  the  ships  of  our  enemy,  but  our  men  are 
poorly  trained,  our  officers  are  half-hearted 
and  incompetent,  mere  adventurers.  They 
would  willingly  fight  against  their  country  if 
they  believed  it  would  be  to  their  personal 
advantage." 

The  two  boys  felt  a  deep  sympathy  for  Cap 
tain  Garcia.  They  saw  in  him  a  man  of  a 
thousand,  differing  materially  from  the  ma 
jority  of  his  race.  Honorable,  brave  and 
loyal,  he  was  ready  to  die  for  his  cause.  Be 
lieving  he  was  sailing  toward  his  death,  they 
had  known  him  for  over  twenty-four  hours 
and  had  not,  until  this  minute,  heard  one 
word  of  complaint. 

The  sound  of  many  people  talking  loudly, 
with  excited  cries  and  exclamations,  struck 
upon  their  ears. 

The  captain's  grave  face  turned  a  shade  paler. 

"What  is  that?"  he  cried. 

Phil  knew  immediately  that  O'Neil's  strat 
egy  was  bearing  fruit. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  181 

"  Let's  see,"  he  proposed,  advancing  to  the 
hatchway. 

They  descended  the  ladder  and  stood  in  as 
tonishment  at  the  sight  presented. 

O'Neil  had  indeed  succeeded.  He  had 
placed  a  crew  at  one  of  the  six-inch  guns  and 
was  making  the  men  go  through  the  drill 
in  American  style.  The  native  sailors  were 
laughing  with  excitement.  They  were  as 
happy  as  if  they  were  playing  at  some  athletic 
game. 

Phil  glanced  anxiously  at  Captain  Garcia. 
The  latter's  face  had  dropped  its  careworn  ex 
pression.  His  eyes  brightened. 

"  Ah,  if  I  had  a  crew  like  that  man,"  he 
sighed. 

Phil  was  silent.  The  time  had  not  arrived 
to  offer  the  aid  of  himself  and  his  two  friends. 
He  knew  the  pride  of  the  race  to  which  the 
captain  belonged.  He  knew  by  his  face  that 
he  was  a  pure-blooded  Castilian. 

Some  hours  later  in  the  cabin  the  expected 
question  that  Phil  had  waited  for  was  asked. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  will  you  and  your  friends  teach 
my  men  to  use  our  guns  ?  " 

Phil  readily  agreed. 


182  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  That  removes  a  great  burden  from  my 
mind/'  exclaimed  Captain  Garcia  gratefully. 
"  When  will  you  begin?  " 

"  Now,  at  once,"  answered  Phil  promptly. 
"  I  must  be  given  authority  to  order  the  men 
about,  and  to  do  this  I  desire  to  be  given  the 
temporary  rank  and  wear  the  uniform  of  your 
first  lieutenant.  My  friend,  Mr.  Monroe,  must 
have  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  O'Neil  an 
ensign.  In  this  way  only  can  we  control  our 
pupils." 

The  captain  was  in  high  glee.  He  fell  in 
immediately  with  the  spirit  of  the  under 
taking. 

Donning  the  uniforms,  which  fortunately 
were  in  store  on  board,  the  Americans  set  to 
work  to  carry  out  the  scheme  outlined  by  Phil. 

The  battery  was  divided  into  two  divisions, 
one  of  which  was  to  be  commanded  by  each  of 
his  companions  with  the  native  officer  as 
assistant.  Phil  himself  was  to  be  near  the 
captain  and  was  also  to  control  the  fire  of  the 
broadsides. 

The  next  night  our  friends  had  reason  to 
congratulate  themselves  upon  their  wonderful 
progress.  The  crew  were  imbued  with  a 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  183 

lively  interest  and  fell  to  with  a  will  to  per 
fect  themselves. 

"  My  country  can  never  repay  its  debt  to 
you,  senors,"  the  captain  exclaimed  to  the 
lads  after  they  had  returned  from  their  last 
drill.  The  enemy  would  be  encountered  the 
next  morning,  if  their  commanding  officers 
had  the  courage  to  fight.  "  I  do  not  now  fear 
the  outcome.  My  greatest  fear  has  been  swept 
away ;  it  was  that  if  the  shells  of  our  enemy 
were  to  hit  us  too  frequently  our  men  might 
become  demoralized  and  in  spite  of  me  haul 
down  our  flag.  There  can  be  no  danger  of 
that  now." 

The  next  morning  all  hands  were  called  be 
fore  dawn  and  preparations  were  made  for  the 
coming  battle.  The  lads  were  consumed  with 
excitement  as  they  move,d  among  the  willing 
sailors.  The  rapid  shooting  with  which  Phil 
hoped  to  overwhelm  their  two  antagonists  was 
provided  for  by  placing  at  the  guns  a  quantity 
of  reserve  ammunition.  O'Neil  went  among 
the  men  joking  with  them  and  telling  them 
what  was  expected  of  them.  Their  Latin  blood 
was  aroused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement. 

"  Do  you  see  these  guns  ?  '•'  he  cried,  changing 


184  A  UNITED  STATES 

his  voice  to  a  harsh  tone,  pointing  to  two  re 
volvers  in  his  belt.  "  I  have  twelve  dead 
men  here.  The  first  dozen  men  who  show 
cowardice  are  as  good  as  dead  right  now." 

By  sunrise  the  low  land  of  the  Bay  of  Rio 
Grande  was  in  sight.  The  red-roofed  town, 
nestling  against  the  side  of  the  dark  green  of 
the  forest,  reflected  the  slanting  rays  of  light. 

The  "  Aquadores  "  steamed  boldly  toward 
the  forts  at  the  entrance. 

Phil  felt  confident  that  Sydney  and  O'Neil 
would  give  a  good  account  of  themselves  in 
the  battle,  the  outcome  of  which  meant  so 
much  to  the  Americans. 

As  he  took  his  station  on  the  high  bridge 
near  the  captain,  the  fire  control  instruments 
in  his  hands,  his  pulses  throbbed  with  an  ex 
citement,  the  height  of  which  he  had  never 
known  before.  Was  this  the  feeling  men  had 
on  the  eve  of  their  first  battle  ? 

The  cruiser  drew  nearer  to  the  defending 
forts.  The  range  finder  showed  five  thousand 
yards  was  their  distance  from  the  cruiser. 

Suddenly  a  brown  puff  of  smoke  belched 
from  one  of  the  forts,  and  the  screech  of  a 
huge  shell  sounded  ominously. 


CHAPTER  XI 

A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT 

THE  shell  from  the  fort  struck  the  water 
some  hundred  yards  ahead  of  the  "  Aquadores," 
and  showed  Captain  Garcia  that  unless  he 
stopped  his  ship,  he  would  draw  the  fire  of  the 
forts.  This  would  place  him  at  a  decided  dis 
advantage.  His  best  course  was  to  entice  the 
ships  of  the  enemy  away  from  the  protection 
of  the  fortifications.  That  the  captain  under 
stood  his  proper  tactics  was  soon  evident. 

"Hard  a-starboard,"  he  ordered,  and  the 
cruiser,  obedient  to  her  helm,  quickly  swung 
her  bow  around  and  headed  directly  away 
from  the  harbor's  mouth. 

Phil  thrilled  with  the  excitement  of  the 
moment ;  he  glanced  at  the  captain's  face  ;  it 
showed  plainly  the  tremendous  strain  that  he 
was  undergoing,  although  he  seemed  out 
wardly  calm  and  deliberate.  The  gravity  of 
their  position  came  home  to  the  lad ;  they 

185 


i86  A  UNITED  STATES 

were  on  the  eve  of  a  battle  between  modern 
ships  with  modern  guns  and  its  outcome  meant 
either  life  or  death. 

"  There's  the  '  Barcelo,'  heading  out,"  cried 
Captain  Garcia.  "  I  believe  she  will  give  us 
battle  ;  her  mate  must  be  behind  the  fort  and 
we  shall  soon  see  what  their  intentions  are. 
If  they  refuse  to  fight  in  the  open,  out  from 
the  protection  of  the  fort  guns,  I  shall  be  forced 
to  enter  the  harbor  regardless  of  the  mines 
and  heavy  guns  ashore." 

Phil  paled  at  the  thought  of  entering  the 
enemy's  fortified  harbor,  strongly  protected  by 
mines.  He  knew  that  the  "  Aquadores " 
could  have  but  little  chance  in  such  an  under 
taking.  A  single  mine  exploded  within  a 
few  feet  of  her  bottom  would  send  her  sky 
ward.  But  a  look  at  Captain  Garcia's  face 
showed  his  intense  earnestness  ;  he  would  risk 
all  in  his  endeavor  to  destroy  the  rebellious 
navy  of  his  country. 

The  enemy's  vessels  had  now  left  the  har 
bor.  They  were  in  plain  sight,  their  battle 
flags  waving  from  their  trucks.  They  pre 
sented  a  noble  appearance,  cleared  for  action, 
the  naked  muzzles  of  their  long  high-powered 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  187 

guns  pointing  toward  the  apparently  fleeing 
cruiser. 

"  What  a  beautiful  sight !  "  Phil  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,  but  deadly,"  Captain  Garcia  replied, 
casting  an  apprehensive  glance  at  the  oncom 
ing  ships.  "  They  are  both  nearly  new  and 
formidable.  They  doubtless  hope  for  an  easy 
victory,  as  they  know  of  the  half-heartedness 
of  my  men.  But  we  are  going  to  surprise 
them,"  he  added,  his  face  brightening  ;  "  I 
believe  they  will  catch  a  tartar." 

"  We  are  surely  going  to  win,"  cried  Phil. 
"  Your  men  can  shoot  each  of  their  guns  eight 
times  in  a  minute ;  we  shall  overwhelm  them 
with  that  fire.  Your  crew  loads  in  the  Ameri 
can  method  ;  our  enemy  know  nothing  of  its 
advantages.  We  can  depend  upon  my  com 
panions  to  keep  their  gun's  crews  at  work." 

"  What  is  the  range  ?  "  inquired  the  captain 
in  a  tense  voice. 

"  Four  thousand  yards,"  Phil  answered, 
measuring  deliberately  with  his  instrument, 
"  and  gaining  rapidly.  Your  stern  guns  can 
open  fire  now." 

The  captain  shook  his  head. 

"  I  know  my  countrymen  better  than  you 


188  A  UNITED  STATES 

do,  lad,"  he  said  lowering  his  voice,  so  as  not 
to  be  heard  by  the  officers  and  men  near  him. 
"  If  we  should  open  fire  now  they  would  come 
no  further,  but  remain  under  the  protecting 
wing  of  the  fort  guns." 

"  I  see,"  cried  Phil  delightedly  ;  "  you  are 
making  them  believe  you  are  afraid  of  them 
and  are  running  away." 

"  Quite  right,"  replied  the  captain  proudly, 
pleased  at  the  compliment  to  his  ability.  "  We 
shall  draw  them  far  out  to  sea  and  then  turn 
on  them  and  force  a  fight.  I  know  their 
speed  ;  it  is  but  seventeen  knots  ;  while  with 
the  '  Aquadores,'  I  am  sure  of  twenty-one  at 
any  time.  So  you  see  they  cannot  then  es 
cape  me." 

"  Thirty-eight  hundred  yards,"  Phil  re 
ported,  taking  his  eyes  from  the  instrument 
and  looking  at  his  watch.  "  What  speed  are 
you  making,  captain  ?  " 

"  Fifteen  knots,"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

"  Then  they  are  going  almost  seventeen 
knots  now,"  Phil  vouched,  as  he  put  his 
watch  away  ;  "  they  have  gained  two  hundred 
yards  in  three  minutes." 

"  If  that  is  so,  I  must  go  faster,"  cried  Cap- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  189 

tain  Garcia,  signaling  to  the  engine  room  to 
increase  the  speed.  "  I  wish  them  to  gain 
slowly  in  order  that  we  may  be  well  out  from 
the  harbor  when  they  reach  an  effective  range 
with  their  guns." 

"  Do  you  see  that  sun  ?  "  cried  Phil,  point 
ing  toward  the  red  disk  but  an  hour  high. 
"  That's  a  bad  thing  to  have  in  your  gun 
sights.  Get  between  your  enemy  and  the  sun 
and  you  have  the  advantage  at  the  start." 

"  Excellent,"  cried  Captain  Garcia.  "  It 
will  spoil  the  enemy's  aim,  and  it  places  me 
in  an  advantageous  position  to  head  them  off 
if  they  attempt  to  escape  me." 

Phil's  nerves  had  become  quieter,  although 
the  long  strain  of  the  stern  chase  had  been 
heavy.  He  glanced  below  him  on  the  gun 
deck  to  observe  the  behavior  of  the  crew. 
Silence  was  ponderous  over  the  ship.  The 
men  at  first  had  talked  in  low  excited  tones 
to  each  other,  but  as  they  saw  the  enemy 
draw  nearer,  they  stood  quietly,  dreading  the 
first  screech  of  their  enemy's  shell.  Sydney 
and  O'Neil  seemed  cool  and  collected  as  they 
stood  with  their  officer  assistants.  Sydney 
glanced  anxiously  through  the  gun-port,  fre- 


190  A  UNITED  STATES 

quently  judging  the  distance  of  the  enemy, 
but  O'Neil  appeared  to  give  the  enemy  but 
scant  thought.  He  seemed  to  be  as  calm  as  if 
he  were  at  target  practice.  To  him  the  excite 
ment  of  battle  was  not  new  ;  he  had  served  in 
Admiral  Sampson's  fleet  during  the  Cuban 
campaign,  and  the  sound  of  shells  screeching 
about  him  gave  him  no  fears. 

"  There  she  goes,"  Phil  exclaimed  loudly  in 
excitement,  as  a  flash  of  fire  sprang  from  the 
leading  ship. 

A  tremor  ran  through  the  crew.  Their 
evident  nervousness  showed  on  their  faces  and 
in  the  muscular  twitching  of  their  hands. 

The  first  shell  struck  short,  but  from  the 
bow  guns  of  the  two  chasers  flash  after  flash 
appeared.  The  screech  and  hiss  of  steel 
missiles  filled  the  air. 

Phil  looked  at  the  captain  anxiously.  The 
latter  stood  surveying  the  scene,  nervously, 
with  his  hand  on  the  wheel  rim. 

The  menace  of  the  enemy's  fire  was 
becoming  more  intense.  The  geyser-like 
splashes  threw  water  on  to  the  decks  of  the 
fleeing  cruiser.  Then  a  crash  below  him  on 
the  battery  deck  sent  the  hot  blood  pulsating 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  191 

through  the  lad's  veins.  He  looked,  a  ter 
rible  fear  in  his  eyes.  He  saw  fresh  blood  on 
the  clean  white  decks  amid  the  suffocating 
smell  of  an  explosion.  The  swarthy  faces  be 
low  him  had  paled  with  an  unknown, 
unreasonable  terror — men  scrambled  over  the 
mutilated  bodies  of  their  stricken  comrades, 
then  stopped,  wild-eyed  and  frenzied,  for  they 
saw  no  escape.  He  glanced  appealingly  at 
Captain  Garcia  ;  the  latter's  face  had  blanched 
but  his  voice  rang  out  true  : 

"  Hard  astarboard  !  Full  speed  !  "  Then 
he  turned  to  Phil  : 

"We  are  ready  to  open  fire." 

The  lad,  with  hands  trembling  with  agita 
tion,  read  the  range  and  transmitted  it  by  his 
electrical  instrument  to  the  guns.  The  notes 
of  the  bugle  rang  out  clear  on  the  battery 
deck  :  "  Commence  firing." 

Sydney  and  O'Neil  drove  the  men  to  their 
guns  at  the  point  of  the  revolver. 

"  If  any  of  you  fellows  shoot  when  you 
ain't  pointing  at  that  leading  ship,"  O'Neil 
sang  out  in  Spanish,  in  a  voice  that  could  be 
heard  above  the  crash  of  exploding  shell  and 
the  frightened  prayers  of  the  sailors,  "  I  am 


192  A  UNITED  STATES 

going  to  pitch  you  to  the  sharks  with  my 
own  hands,"  and  he  looked  as  if  he  meant 
every  word.  No  doubt  the  little  brown 
sailormen  thought  he  would  carry  out  his 
dire  threat,  for  they  moved  slowly  back  to 
their  stations. 

The  next  moment  the  situation  was  re 
lieved.  The  "  Aquadores  "  swung  her  port 
broadside  to  the  enemy  and  the  sharp  de 
tonating  discharge  of  her  guns  made  her  crew 
forget  their  fear  of  the  enemy's  shells. 

Phil  with  glasses  to  his  eyes  watched  their 
shells  wing  their  way  toward  the  enemy. 
The  roar  of  discharges  now  grew  incessant. 
The  leading  cruiser  was  fairly  blotted  out  by 
the  splashing  of  steel  all  about  her. 

The  "  Aquadores  "  was  not  escaping  un 
scathed  ;  the  dead  and  dying  littered  the 
decks,  but  the  crew,  with  desperation  born  of 
their  dread  for  their  officers'  revolvers,  worked 
like  madmen. 

Phil  saw  a  heavy  pall  of  smoke  rising  from 
the  leading  cruiser,  now  heading  about  in  an 
endeavor  to  seek  the  shelter  of  their  fort's 
guns.  Itwasthe"Barcelo."  The  "  Soledad  " 
was  yet  unharmed  and  stood  boldly  on, 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  193 

using  her  guns  with  terrific  effect.  He 
rushed  down  to  the  battery  deck.  He  found 
his  companions  drawing  their  men  back  to 
reload  the  guns. 

"  One  enemy  is  disabled,"  he  cried  desper 
ately.  "  Back  to  your  guns.  If  you  desert 
now  it  means  death.  Shoot  at  the  other  ship ! " 

The  men  went  once  more  to  their  guns,  a 
sullen  scowl  on  their  terrified  faces. 

"  For  our  lives,  keep  them  at  it,"  he  shouted 
to  O'Neil  as  he  swung  himself  up  the  ladder 
to  the  bridge. 

The  "  Soledad  "  was  heading  directly  for  the 
"  Aquadores."  The  white  foam  under  the 
bow  of  the  former  showed  she  was  making  a 
rush  to  close  with  her  enemy. 

Captain  Garcia  was  undecided.  He  stood 
with  his  hand  ready  to  clutch  the  wheel  to 
retreat.  The  "  Soledad,"  a  blaze  of  destruction, 
came  on  with  a  speed  that  seemed  well-nigh 
incredible.  At  the  shorter  range  her  shots 
were  falling  thickly  about  their  decks,  and 
the  cries  of  the  wounded  were  heartrending. 

Phil  saw  with  consternation  that  she  was 
approaching  on  a  converging  course,  and  if 
the  "  Aquadores "  stood  on  the  two  vessels 


194  A  UNITED  STATES 

must  meet  in  but  a  few  minutes.  What  would 
Captain  Garcia  do  ?  Sydney  and  O'Neil  were 
nowhere  in  sight.  The  battery  fire  had  been 
reduced  alarmingly  ;  but  four  guns  were  now 
firing  against  ten  of  their  enemy.  What  could 
have  happened  to  his  companions  ?  Then  a 
sudden  wave  of  joy  filled  his  heart.  O'Neil 
and  Sydney  were  both  shooting  guns  them 
selves  and  the  officer  assistants  had  taken  two 
others.  The  excited  sailors  were  working  as 
hard  as  their  limited  strength  allowed  them, 
and  from  the  guns  of  the  Americans,  Phil  saw 
with  delight,  the  one  hundred  pound  shells  in 
a  perfect  stream  were  hurled,  true  to  their  aim 
against  the  side  of  the  advancing  ship. 

Phil  read  his  range  finder. 

"  Two  thousand  yards,"  he  cried,  then  he 
froze  with  sudden  fear.  "  Have  they  torpe 
does?"  he  questioned  anxiously. 

There  was  no  time  for  an  answer.  A  puff 
of  white  smoke,  low  down  on  the  "  Soledad's  " 
leaden  side ;  a  flash  of  bright  metal  in  the 
sunlight,  and  a  silent  splash  in  the  water,  told 
our  lad  only  too  plainly  that  five  hundred 
pounds  of  high  explosive  had  been  launched 
on  its  deadly  errand  against  their  ship. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  195 

Phil's  voice  refused  obedience.  The  "  Aqua- 
dores  "  stood  on  at  full  speed,  while  he  saw  a 
white  wake  of  air  bubbles  in  a  straight  line, 
ever  extending,  marking  the  path  of  the 
Whitehead  torpedo. 

Captain  Garcia  hesitated  but  a  moment ; 
then  he  grasped  the  spokes  of  the  wheel  and 
spun  it  around,  swinging  the  bow  of  the 
cruiser  toward  the  approaching  destroyer. 

The  men  below,  intuitively,  knew  that  some 
new  danger  threatened.  An  ominous  murmur 
arose  from  the  guns.  The  dread  of  an  un 
known  danger  had  put  the  fear  of  death  into 
their  simple  minds. 

The  "  Aquadores "  turned  swiftly,  yet  it 
seemed  to  the  anxious  watchers  that  she  must 
place  herself  directly  in  the  path  of  the  tor 
pedo.  Our  lad  knew  that  the  captain  had 
now  made  the  only  correct  maneuver  ;  by  pre 
senting  his  bow  to  the  torpedo,  it  would  give 
less  surface  to  the  steely  fish,  and  a  glancing 
blow  on  the  curved  under-water  side  of  the 
cruiser  might  not  explode  its  death-dealing 
head. 

Through  his  glass  Phil  watched  the  fast  ap 
proaching  tube  of  steel.  It  was  running  but 


196  A  UNITED  STATES 

a  few  feet  under  the  clear  blue  water,  leaving 
behind  it  a  trail  of  bubbles  from  the  air  ex 
hausted  through  its  tiny  engines. 

It  seemed  to  the  lad  that  the  torpedo  could 
not  miss.  He  grasped  the  hand-rail  near  him 
to  brace  himself  against  the  terrific  impact  of 
the  explosion  he  knew  would  come  with  the 
speed  of  light  when  the  deadly  point  of  the 
tube  plowed  into  the  "  Aquadores' '  steel 
plates.  He  could  not  withdraw  his  fascinated 
gaze  from  the  approaching  menace ;  yet  he 
heard  ominous  sounds  on  the  deck  below  him 
that  showed  him  the  awful  plight  of  the 
cruiser. 

The  torpedo  was  now  very  near,  pointing 
directly  for  the  bow  of  the  "  Aquadores,"  ever 
swinging  toward  its  small  enemy. 

A  flash  of  steel  across  the  cruiser's  bow  ;  a 
whir  of  tiny  propellers ;  a  white  streak  of 
foam,  and  the  danger  had  passed.  Death  had 
brushed  close  by  and  gone  beyond  on  a  futile 
errand. 

"  Back  to  your  guns,"  Captain  Garcia  cried, 
steering  his  vessel  toward  the  now  retreating 
enemy. 

"  If  you   don't  put  them  out  of  business 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  197 

now,"  Phil  heard  O'Neil  shout  to  the  uncer 
tain  men,  "  they'll  let  loose  another  one  of 
them  torpedoes,  and  they'll  hit  us  sure  next 
time." 

As  the  gunners  returned  to  the  battery,  the 
roar  of  discharges  brought  confidence  to  the 
panic-stricken  crew. 

It  was  soon  the  "  Aquadores'  "  turn  to  be 
joyful.  The  demoralized  enemy  were  run 
ning  for  cover.  Their  fire  had  almost  ceased, 
but  the  deck  of  the  cruiser,  strewn  with  dead 
and  dying,  told  of  the  havoc  while  it  had 
lasted. 

Those  on  the  bridge  had,  by  a  miracle, 
escaped  unharmed.  Phil  had  felt  many  a 
shell  pass  him,  scorching  him  with  its  hot 
blast. 

"  Concentrate  on  the  nearest  vessel,"  Phil 
shouted  to  his  companions  below  him.  The 
range  was  but  scant  two  thousand  yards. 
The  "  Aquadores'  "  shell  went  true  to  their 
aim.  The  smoke  of  explosions  on  the  deck 
of  the  nearer  vessel  rose  in  clouds,  almost 
concealing  her  from  view.  She  had  fired  a 
few  shots  with  a  stern  gun  as  she  turned  to 
follow  her  fleeing  mate  ;  this  now  ceased.  She 


198  A  UNITED  STATES 

was  bending  all  efforts  to  escape.  Once  under 
the  cover  of  their  shore  batteries  they  could 
refit  the  ships  and  again  be  ready  for  battle. 

Captain  Garcia's  face  wore  a  look  of  deter 
mination  as  he  took  in  his  hand  the  flexible 
speaking-tube  to  the  engine  room. 

"  Make  all  speed  possible,"  he  ordered. 

"  Cripple  her,"  he  cried  to  his  gunners  be 
low.  "  Let  neither  escape  us." 

The  intense  excitement  was  fairly  stifling. 
Both  vessels  of  the  enemy  were  making  more 
speed  than  Captain  Garcia  had  given  them 
credit  for  being  able  to  do.  The  distance  was 
not  increasing  but  they  were  persistently  hold 
ing  their  own,  and  the  "  Aquadores'  "  shoot 
ing  had  not,  despite  the  volume  of  fire,  suc 
ceeded  in  reducing  their  speed  by  even  the 
fraction  of  a  knot. 

"  Aim  at  her  water  line,"  Phil  shouted  to 
his  companions,  pointing  at  the  "  Soledad." 

The  next  few  shots  from  the  "  Aquadores  " 
were  fired  singly  by  O'Neil.  Phil  sent  him 
the  exact  range  from  his  range  finder,  while 
Sydney  saw  the  sight  bar  was  accurately  set. 

The  first  shell  struck  only  a  few  yards 
short,  in  her  white  wake.  The  next  shot 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  199 

struck  under  her  counter  and  exploded  with 
an  echoing  report. 

"  You  jammed  her  rudder,"  Phil  shouted 
jubilantly,  as  he  saw  the  "  Soledad "  sheer 
widely  to  starboard  and  expose  half  of  her 
broadside  to  the  bow  fire  of  the  chaser.  O'Neil 
saw  his  opportunity  to  plant  a  number  of 
shells  against  her  water  line.  Putting  the 
cross  wire  of  his  telescope  sight  fairly  and 
steadily  on  her  water  line  amidships,  he  fired. 
The  watchers  on  the  bridge  anxiously  fol 
lowed  with  their  eyes  the  shell  speeding 
toward  the  "  Soledad."  Then  the  sound  of 
a  mighty  explosion  filled  the  air  and  the 
hindmost  enemy  was  blotted  out  in  a  cloud 
of  white,  vapor-like  smoke. 

"  Her  boilers  have  exploded  !  "  cried  Phil, 
grasping  Captain  Garcia's  arm  in  his  excite 
ment. 

The  "  Barcelo,"  as  if  fearing  the  terrible 
punishment  of  her  mate  would  be  visited 
upon  her,  had  stopped  dead  on  the  water. 

Captain  Garcia  steamed  his  vessel  cautiously 
up  to  the  vanquished  enemy. 

The  "  Soledad  "  was  a  pitiful  sight  as  she 
rolled  a  shattered  hulk  on  the  ocean  swell ; 


200  A  UNITED  STATES 

smoke-stacks  gone  ;  her  decks  blackened  with 
the  fire  of  explosions,  and  torn  and  rent  by 
the  terrific  violence  of  the  blown  up  boilers. 

"  She's  sinking,"  cried  Phil  in  horror,  turn 
ing  anxiously  to  Captain  Garcia. 

The  captain  nodded  his  head  in  the  affirm 
ative. 

"  I  fear  many  of  her  crew  have  perished. 
We  must  save  every  life  we  can." 

The  "  Aquadores  "  was  stopped  near  the 
sinking  ship  and  boats  were  lowered  promptly. 
But  as  Captain  Garcia  had  feared,  there  were 
but  a  handful  of  survivors  left  on  the  surface 
after  the  "  Soledad,"  her  colors  still  flying, 
sank  beneath  the  surface  of  the  sea. 

In  a  half  hour  more  a  prize  crew  from  the 
"  Aquadores  "  had  been  sent  on  board  the  cap 
tured  "  Barcelo  "  and  the  two  vessels,  now  no 
longer  enemies,  lay  quietly  awaiting  the  dark 
ness  to  finish  the  work  of  destruction  of  the 
insurgent  navy ;  a  torpedo  boat  must  yet  be 
accounted  for  before  Captain  Garcia  could  sail 
back  to  La  Boca  and  report  to  his  president 
that  his  work  had  been  successfully  accom 
plished. 

"  The  '  Barcelo'  is  quite  serviceable,"  Captain 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  201 

Garcia  informed  the  American  lads,  after  his 
return  on  board  the  "  Aquadores  "  from  his 
visit  to  the  captured  vessel.  "  She  suffered 
badly  from  our  shells  and  has  lost  many  men  ; 
fortunately  her  surgeons  are  uninjured,  and 
are  now  attending  to  her  wounded.  Our  losses 
have  been  heavy  ;  I  weep  for  my  poor  country 
men,  fighting  against  their  own  flesh  and 
blood." 

Captain  Garcia  burst  into  tears.  The  sight 
quite  unmanned  the  youths.  It  was  a  new 
sight  for  them — a  man,  who  had  borne  him 
self  with  so  much  bravery  through  the  terrible 
trials  of  the  last  few  hours,  breaking  down 
and  crying  like  a  child. 

The  lads  tried  to  console  the  sorely  tried 
man,  but  he  was  inconsolable.  The  reaction 
on  his  Latin  nature  was  more  than  his  nerve 
could  stand. 

"  You  have  placed  me  under  a  heavy  debt," 
the  captain  said,  his  voice  breaking  with  emo 
tion.  "  I  believe  in  my  heart  that  without 
your  superb  assistance,  my  ship  would  now  be 
beneath  the  waves  instead  of  the  '  Soledad,'  or, 
which  is  far  worse  for  an  honorable  man,  lying 
there  vanquished,  my  flag  trailing  in  the  dirt." 


202  A  UNITED  STATES 

He  pointed  through  the  gun-port  at  the  battle- 
scarred  "  Barcelo,"  her  lowered  flag  still  trail 
ing  from  her  mast  in  sign  of  surrender. 

"  Don't  think  of  it  in  that  way,"  Phil  hastily 
assured  him.  "  We  have  served  our  own  ends 
as  well  as  yours." 

"  But  you  have  risked  your  lives  many 
times  for  our  sacred  cause,"  cried  Captain 
Garcia.  He  took  each  by  the  hand,  while 
tears  of  gratitude  streamed  down  his  face.  "  I 
take  your  hands  as  brothers ;  and  that  superb 
sailorman  !  if  he  would  join  our  navy  our 
president  would  make  him  a  captain." 

Both  lads  were  pleased  and  proud  that  their 
work  had  been  appreciated  so  highly  by  their 
friend.  Their  short  acquaintance  with  his 
noble  character  tended  to  change  the  opinion 
they  had  formed  of  the  men  of  his  race.  This 
man  was  surely  one  of  nature's  noblemen. 

The  boys  thanked  him  warmly  for  his 
words. 

"  We  have  risked  our  lives,  Captain  Garcia, 
in  your  cause,"  Phil  replied  earnestly,  "  be 
cause  your  cause  happens  to  be  our  cause." 

Captain  Garcia  looked  puzzled. 

"  However    you  put   it,"  he  declared,    "  I 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  203 

shall  always  consider  that  you  three  Ameri 
cans  have  given  us  this  victory.  We  could 
never  have  won  without  your  aid,  and  our 
president  shall  richly  reward  you." 

"  That  will  be  impossible,  sir,"  Phil  ex 
plained  quickly.  "  Do  not  believe  us  unap- 
preciative,  but  you  must  not  tell  any  one  of 
the  part  we  have  played  in  this  battle.  I  pray 
you  will  counsel  secrecy  to  your  officers  and 
men.  It  will  do  us  much  harm  if  the  truth 
were  known." 

Captain  Garcia  was  more  perplexed  than 
ever.  He  shrugged  his  shoulders  as  much  as 
to  say  : 

"Young  man,  your  American  ways  are  en 
tirely  too  complicated  for  me  to  understand." 


CHAPTER  XII 

CAPTAIN  GAKCIA'S  STRATEGY 

CAPTAIN  Garcia's  face  showed  the  midship 
men  his  keen  disappointment. 

"  You  are  denying  my  men  and  myself  a 
rightful  pleasure,"  he  answered  after  an  ap 
preciable  silence.  "  They  are  acclaiming  you 
their  deliverers  and  I  fear  they  will  not  ob 
serve  my  orders  when  I  counsel  secrecy.  Senor 
O'Neil  is  already  their  idol ;  to  a  man  they 
are  wildly  enthusiastic  over  his  rough  and 
ready  ways,  and  unless  I  am  much  mistaken 
the  praises  for  the  three  Americans  will  be 
sung  in  every  house  in  La  Boca  a  short  time 
after  we  have  returned." 

"  But,  Captain  Garcia,"  Phil  replied  hastily, 
a  sudden  fear  in  his  voice,  "  you  must  tell  the 
men  that  by  speaking  of  our  work  on  board 
the  '  Aquadores '  they  will  injure  those  to 
whom  they  wish  well.  Our  future  careers  in 
the  navy  may  be  jeopardized." 

"  Never  fear  them,"  exclaimed  the  captain 
204 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  205 

earnestly,  seeing  the  alarm  on  the  lad's  face. 
"  My  men  know  that  they  owe  you  their  lives. 
They  shall  be  silent.  I  can  vouch  for  that." 

Captain  Garcia  soon  departed  to  lay  his  plans 
for  the  coming  night,  leaving  the  boys  in  the 
cabin.  It  was  the  first  time  they  had  been 
alone  since  the  battle. 

"  Syd,  you  were  a  wonder  during  the 
fight,"  Phil  began  enthusiastically;  "you  ap 
peared  to  be  as  cool  as  if  you  were  only  drill- 
ing." 

"  I  wasn't  cool,"  Sydney  confessed  ;  "  I  was 
ail-powerfully  scared,  I  can  tell  you.  As  the 
men  deserted  the  guns,  when  the  '  Soledad ' 
fired  her  torpedo  and  the  shells  were  explod 
ing,  it  seemed  all  about  me,  I  felt  as  near  like 
making  a  mile  run  as  I  ever  did  in  my  life." 

"  That's  only  modesty,"  Phil  declared  in 
admiration.  "  You  acted  like  a  veteran 
under  fire." 

"  I  am  glad  I  didn't  show  my  true  feel 
ings,"  he  replied  much  pleased,  "  but  to  me  the 
greatest  marvel  was  O'Neil ;  he  doesn't  know 
what  fear  is.  I  saw  him,  on  two  occasions, 
catch  in  his  arms  a  man  who  had  been 
killed  at  his  side  by  an  exploding  shell,  lay 


206  A  UNITED  STATES 

him  gently  out  of  the  way  of  the  guns,  and  go 
back  to  his  work  with  jaws  set  like  iron  and 
his  eyes  flashing  with  the  joy  of  fighting.  A 
crew  of  such  men  could  do  miracles." 

"  Syd,  during  the  fight,  when  I  saw  O'Neil, 
I  forgot  the  sense  of  fear  myself,"  he  cried 
gladly.  "  He  was  superb." 

"Did  you  really  mean  what  you  told  the 
captain  here,  "  questioned  Sydney  anxiously  ; 
"  that  our  careers  might  be  endangered  if  the 
part  we  took  in  the  battle  were  known  ?  " 

"  I  fear  I  did,"  he  returned.  "  Our  enemies 
could  use  it  against  us  and  do  us  a  great  deal 
of  harm.  My  conscience  is  clear,  however  ; 
our  lives  were  in  mortal  danger  and  our 
actions  were  prompted  by  the  natural  law  of 
self-defense." 

"  Will  you  tell  Captain  Taylor  what  we 
have  done?  "  Sydney  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  shall  have  to  make  a  clean  breast 
of  it  to  him,"  Phil  declared.  "  He  may  con 
demn  our  actions  and  even  send  us  home  in 
disgrace ;  but  we  must  take  that  risk.  He 
should  know  all.  From  now  on  we  must  re 
turn  to  our  r61e  as  neutrals.  I  do  not  know 
what  Captain  Garcia's  plans  may  be,  but  I  feel 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  207 

sure  he  will  not  be  satisfied  until  the  torpedo- 
boat  is  disposed  of.  She  will  remain  a 
menace  to  the  '  Aquadores '  as  long  as  she 
floats  and  flies  the  flag  of  the  rebellion." 

"  Then  we  shall  take  no  further  part  in  the 
fighting,"  exclaimed  Sydney  ruefully. 

"  No,  not  unless  we  can  do  so  justly,"  his 
companion  answered.  "  It  will  have  to  be  in 
self-defense.  We  dare  not  take  the  initiative  in 

a  hostile  act Hallo  !  We  are  moving 

rapidly,"  he  added  glancing  through  the  gun- 
port,  "and  we  seem  to  be  heading  toward 
La  Boca.  We  surely  cannot  be  going  to 
abandon  the  torpedo-boat." 

It  took  the  midshipmen  but  a  few  moments 
to  appear  on  deck.  There  they  saw  that  the 
"  Aquadores "  was  steaming  swiftly  to  the 
northward,  followed  by  the  "  Barcelo."  The 
harbor  of  Rio  Grande  was  gradually  fading 
astern. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  exclaimed  Sydney. 
"  If  I  were  Captain  Garcia  I'd  make  short 
work  of  the  torpedo-boat  before  I  left  this 
port.  One  of  these  dark  nights  she  may  steal 
into  La  Boca  harbor  and  torpedo  the 
1  Aquadores.'  " 


208  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  that  he  is  abandoning 
the  idea  of  destroying  her,"  replied  Phil 
thoughtfully.  "  I  have  come  to  consider  him 
a  clever  naval  officer.  There  is  some  good 
reason  for  his  action.  Let's  go  to  the  bridge — 
I  am  sure  he  will  enlighten  us." 

The  lads  found  Captain  Garcia  in  the  wheel 
house  carefully  studying  the  chart  of  Rio 
Grande. 

Phil  shot  a  swift  glance  at  Sydney  as  he 
divined  the  captain's  intentions.  "  There's 
more  work  ahead,"  he  whispered. 

The  captain  raised  his  head  finally  and 
greeted  the  midshipmen. 

"  The  more  I  look  into  this  matter  the 
more  hazardous  it  appears,"  he  confided,  a 
worried  look  on  his  face.  "  I  may  undo  the 
effect  of  our  victory  by  losing  both  ships. 
Yet  I  cannot  return  to  La  Boca  and  report 
one  vessel  still  at  large  and  a  menace  to  our 
cause." 

The  captain  paused  and  seemed  in  deep 
thought.  The  boys  regarded  him  intently  in 
silence. 

"  I  am  resorting  to  strategy,"  he  finally  ex 
plained,  pointing  ahead  in  the  direction  of 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          209 

La  Boca.  "  It  is  now  three  o'clock  ;  there  are 
three  more  hours  of  daylight  and  by  dark  we 
shall  be  fifty  miles  from  Rio  Grande.  Our 
enemy  will  watch  us  pass  below  the  horizon 
and  I  hope  will  believe  that  we  have  con 
tinued  our  way  northward.  As  soon  as  it  is 
dark  I  shall  turn  about  and  steam  back  for 
the  harbor  at  full  speed." 

The  boys  were  consumed  with  delight  at  the 
plan. 

"  And  then  ?  "  asked  Phil. 

"  I  have  reasoned  thus,"  continued  Captain 
Garcia  smiling  in  spite  of  himself  at  the  lads' 
eager  faces  :  "  the  torpedo-boat,  believing  we 
have  gone,  may  leave  the  harbor  and  go  outside 
to  reconnoitre.  She  will  go  out  to  the  locality 
where  the  '  Soledad '  sank  ;  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  wreckage  there  which  has  undoubtedly  been 
seen  from  ashore.  I  am  depending  upon  the 
curiosity  of  my  countrymen  to  see  the  ill- 
fated  spot.  If  she  should  leave  the  harbor 
now  she  would  be  back  inside  before  I 
could  turn  and  head  her  off,  but  if  she 
delays  until  sunset  she  will  find  me 
waiting  here  at  the  harbor's  mouth  on  her 
return.  When  we  reach  the  entrance  the 


210  A  UNITED  STATES 

'  Barcelo '  will  leave  us  and  search  to  sea 
ward." 

"And  if  she  is  still  inside?"  questioned 
Phil. 

"  Then  I  shall  sacrifice  the  '  Barcelo,'  "  the 
captain  answered  quickly,  "  in  an  attempt  to 
run  the  mine  fields  to  engage  the  enemy  in 
side.  The  night  will  be  moonless  and  the 
advantage  will  be  with  the  attacking  force." 

The  boys  could  not  hide  their  admiration 
of  the  captain's  strategy. 

"  How  could  you  ever  have  thought  of 
it  ?  "  cried  Phil  delightedly.  "  I  believe  that 
is  exactly  what  she  will  do."  Then  a  thought 
came  to  him.  "  But  if  she  is  outside  will  she 
not  discover  you  before  you  see  her  ?  You 
dare  not  use  your  search-lights,  for  she  can 
then  easily  avoid  you  and  escape  into  shal 
low  water,  where  you  could  not  follow  her." 

"  That  is  the  risk  of  war,"  Captain  Garcia 
answered  grandiloquently.  "  If  she  torpedoes 
us  we  must  sink  her  even  if  we  ourselves 
are  sunk.  My  government  can  buy  another 
'  Aquadores.' ' 

The  two  vessels  steamed  swiftly  away  from 
their  enemy.  The  sun  sank  slowly  toward 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          211 

the  horizon  to  the  westward.  The  midship 
men  watched  the  molten  ball  dip  into  the 
fiery  sea.  Darkness  came  quickly,  for  in  these 
latitudes  there  is  no  twilight. 

Inside  of  ten  minutes  night  had  settled 
down  over  the  sea  and  the  war-ships  had 
turned  about  and  were  steaming  at  full  speed 
toward  the  enemy's  harbor. 

The  hours  passed  with  leaden  feet.  Cloud 
banks  which  had  been  visible  on  the  horizon 
before  sunset  slowly  spread  a  filmy  mantle 
over  the  sky,  blotting  out  the  brilliant  tropical 
stars.  The  night  became  darker.  With  all 
lights  screened,  the  gray  hulls  moved  nois- 
lessly  through  the  calm  sea. 

"  If  she  is  outside  the  night  is  in  her  favor," 
Captain  Garcia  said,  peering  through  the  inky 
blackness.  "  We  couldn't  see  her  five  hundred 
yards  away,  while  from  her  low  deck  she 
could  see  our  hull  at  nearly  twice  that  dis 
tance." 

"  Maybe  our  better  chance  is  to  enter  the 
harbor  after  all,"  exclaimed  Phil,  losing  heart. 

"  But  think  of  the  mines  and  the  guns  of 
the  forts,"  replied  the  captain  ;  "  for  me,  I'd 
rather  find  her  outside.  She  can  hardly  be 


212  A  UNITED  STATES 

lucky  enough  to  sink  both  ships,  and  I  have 
confidence  that  we  shall  sink  her  if  we  see 
her." 

He  turned  to  Phil  questioningly. 

"  May  I  count  upon  my  American  friends 
for  aid?"  he  added. 

Phil  hesitated.  If  the  torpedo-boat  attacked 
them  it  would  be  surely  self-defense  for  them 
to  help  defend  the  cruiser. 

"  We  are  entirely  at  your  service,  sir,"  he 
declared,  "  if  the  boat  is  outside.  I  am  sorry, 
but  our  aid  cannot  be  given  otherwise." 

Captain  Garcia  seemed  perplexed. 

"  I  find  I  become  ever  more  heavily 
your  debtor.  Are  all  American  naval  men 
like  you  and  your  companions  ?  "  Then  he 
added  sincerely,  "  I  pray  that  some  day  I 
shall  be  given  an  opportunity  to  show  my 
gratitude." 

The  boys  took  his  proffered  hand  and  wrung 
it  warmly. 

O'Neil  stepped  hesitatingly  on  the  bridge. 
The  lads  seized  upon  the  sailor  and  brought 
him  up  beside  them. 

"  What  is  it  now?"  he  inquired,  peering  into 
the  darkness  ahead. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  213 

The  situation  was  quickly  explained. 

The  boatswain's  mate's  face  lit  up  with 
pleasure  for  a  moment,  then  he  turned  to  Phil, 
a  troubled  note  in  his  voice. 

"  Them  dagos  can't  hit  even  the  water  at 
night,"  he  whispered  ;  "  some  of  them  have 
been  begging  me  to  come  and  find  out  what's 
going  to  happen." 

"  But  the  enemy's  sailors  are  just  as  much 
afraid  of  the  dark,"  Phil  declared  in  a  low  tone. 

"  These  men  ain't  sailors,"  he  answered 
disgustedly,  "  they  are  soldiers,  landlubbers. 
All  the  sailormen  of  the  country  are  with  the 
rebels." 

A  sudden  idea  struck  the  lad.  He  turned 
from  O'Neil  toward  Captain  Garcia,  wrapped 
in  his  own  thoughts. 

"  Captain  Garcia,  O'Neil  says  all  your  men 
are  soldiers,"  he  cried  anxiously. 

The  captain  nodded. 

"  I  had  to  take  them,"  he  returned  ;  "  the 
sailors  were  disloyal  to  a  man.  I  was  naval 
attache"  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  Wash 
ington  and  was  forced  to  be  satisfied  with  the 
men  my  government  sent  to  me  to  man  my 
ship." 


214  A  UNITED  STATES 

"How  many  prisoners  have  you?"  Phil 
questioned  hurriedly. 

Captain  Garcia's  face  brightened. 

"  I  see  your  drift,"  he  cried.  "  I  believe  I 
can  depend  upon  them.  We  have  over  a 
hundred." 

"  Put  them  at  the  guns,  sir,  and  have  your 
soldiers  stand  over  them.  I'll  make  them 
shoot  straight  when  I  tell  them  it's  '  Davy 
Jones'  locker '  if  they  don't,"  O'Neil  urged. 

In  a  short  time  the  hundred  rebel  sailors 
were  liberated  from  the  lower  hold  and  put 
at  the  guns.  The  old  crew,  rifles  in  hand, 
were  placed  as  sentries  about  the  ship. 

"  Me  for  the  rigging  if  those  chaps  mutiny," 
laughed  O'Neil,  pointing  to  the  scores  of  rifle 
men,  carelessly  handling  their  pieces,  guard 
ing  the  captured  sailors  at  the  big  guns.  The 
loom  of  the  land  near  Rio  Grande  was  now 
dimly  discernible  on  the  starboard  bow. 

The  two  cruisers  slowly  closed  in  toward 
the  shore.  The  vibrations  of  the  engines 
lessened.  The  war-ships  were  soon  motion 
less  in  the  water.  The  harbor  entrance  had 
been  reached. 

Phil  glanced  apprehensively  through  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          215 

darkness.  He  could  see  dimly  the  smudges 
of  forts,  but  he  knew  from  them  the  "  Aqua- 
dores  "  and  her  mate,  although  but  a  scant 
half  mile  distant,  were  quite  invisible ;  their 
steel  gray  sides  blended  in  with  the  dark  sea 
and  sky,  showing  an  unbroken  line. 

His  companions  were  at  their  stations  at 
the  guns.  Every  gun  was  loaded  and  ready 
to  be  fired  instantly. 

Phil  from  his  station  at  the  range  finder 
above  the  battery  deck  peered  down  on  the 
scene  below  him.  He  could  make  out  the 
shadowy  figures  of  the  men  at  the  guns ;  he 
saw  the  men  at  the  sight  telescopes  and  the 
anxious  loaders  behind  the  breech  of  each 
gun,  with  the  shell  and  powder  ready. 
O'Neil  stood  almost  directly  under  him  ;  he 
seemed  to  be  the  unconscious  man-of-war's 
man  surrounded  by  perils. 

"  Put  down  those  firing  keys,"  he  cau 
tioned.  His  voice  was  low,  but  it  sounded 
distinct  and  commanding  over  the  silent 
deck.  "  You'll  be  getting  nervous  and  shoot 
ing  off  before  we  clap  eyes  on  her." 

The  "  Barcelo  "  steamed  by  ;  she  had  re 
ceived  her  orders  from  Captain  Garcia  to 


216  A  UNITED  STATES 

search  the  neighborhood  of  the  wreck  for  the 
enemy. 

They  watched  her  slowly  dissolve  in  the 
night. 

Phil's  pulses  beat  fast.  The  moment  was 
fraught  with  grave  perils.  The  unseen  tor 
pedo-boat  might  be  even  then  aiming  a  deadly 
blow  at  the  motionless  cruiser. 

The  crew  were  all  watching  intently ; 
keyed  to  the  highest  pitch  of  nervous  excite 
ment  ;  their  eyes  set  fixedly,  staring  into  the 
total  gloom  about  them  ;  alert  for  the  first 
sound  of  the  approaching  enemy. 

The  attitude  of  the  prisoners  was  reassur 
ing  ;  they  could  not  load  as  rapidly  as  O'Neil 
had  made  the  soldiers  do;  but  they  were 
used  to  naval  warfare,  they  were  on  their  own 
element,  the  night  and  the  unseen  danger 
held  for  them  many  terrors,  but  they  were 
not  so  terrified  as  their  soldier  comrades ; 
also  they  had  been  told  that  they  would  all 
be  drowned  if  the  "  Aquadores "  was  tor 
pedoed  and  that  if  they  refused  to  fire  they 
would  suffer  death  from  the  soldiers'  rifles. 
Phil  felt  confident  the  sailors  could  be  de 
pended  upon.  He  glanced  aloft  at  the  search- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  217 

light  platforms,  high  above  the  bridge  deck  ; 
the  operators  stood  ready,  like  shrouded 
statues,  silhouetted  against  the  starless  sky. 

Captain  Garcia  was  the  man  of  action,  one 
hand  on  the  telegraph  to  the  engine  room 
and  his  other  on  the  switch  for  the  search 
lights,  his  eyes  peering  into  the  night. 

Phil  read  his  intention  at  a  glance  :  on  the 
discovery  of  the  enemy  to  start  ahead  at  full 
speed  and  flash  both  search-lights  on  her 
simultaneously. 

"  The  '  Barcelo  '  should  be  there  by  now," 
the  captain  said  in  a  tense  voice  to  the  lad 
beside  him.  "  Will  my  strategy  fail  ?  Have 
I  made  an  error  in  my  judgment  of  my 
countrymen  ?  " 

Phil  was  silent.  His  nerves  were  at  too 
high  tension  to  speak. 

"  The  '  Barcelo's  '  orders  were  if  she  dis 
covered  the  torpedo-boat,"  Captain  Garcia 
continued  in  a  nervous  whisper,  "  to  turn 
her  search-light  upon  the  enemy  and  steam 
at  full  speed  toward  us.  We  shall  remain 
dark.  My  dread  is  that  our  enemy  may  be 
now  returning  to  the  harbor  and  will  sud 
denly  find  me  in  her  path." 


218  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  But  even  if  that  happens  will  she  be  able 
to  fire  a  torpedo  immediately  ?  "  questioned 
Phil  in  a  voice  he  tried  hard  to  control. 

"  Her  torpedoes  will  be  in  the  tubes,"  he 
answered,  "  and  probably  primed  ready  to  be 
fired,  but  she  must  first  aim  her  tube  at  us 
and  not  suspecting  that  we  are  near,  there 
should  be  a  sufficient  interval  for  us  to  sink 
her." 

Captain  Garcia  had  been  so  fully  occupied 
gazing  to  seaward  that  he  had  failed  to  notice 
that  the  tide  entering  the  harbor  was  slowly 
setting  the  "  Aquadores  "  in  toward  the  forts. 
An  exclamation  from  the  lad  at  his  side  made 
him  throw  an  apprehensive  glance  over  his 
shoulder  at  the  near-by  shore.  It  seemed 
very  close.  He  seized  the  engine  room  tele 
graph  and  signaled  for  full  speed  ahead. 
But  a  flash  from  the  batteries  and  a  sullen 
roar  showed  him  their  thoughtlessness  had 
discovered  them  to  the  watchful  enemy.  The 
shells  screeched  over  their  heads  and  struck 
the  water  with  a  spiteful  hiss. 

"  We  have  lost,"  Captain  Garcia  exclaimed 
in  bitter  anguish  ;  "  if  the  torpedo-boat  is  out 
she  can  easily  avoid  us,  knowing  we  are  near. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  219 

From  her  deck  she  can  see  us  long  before  we 
can  sight  her.  My  hope  was  that  they  would 
not  be  watchful ;  now  they  have  been  warned 
and  will  run  cautiously." 

The  "  Aquadores "  slowly  gathered  speed 
and,  turning,  steamed  out  to  sea  in  the  direc 
tion  taken  by  her  consort. 

Shell  after  shell  followed  her,  but  in  the 
darkness  the  fort's  aim  was  bad  ;  the  gunners 
ashore  could  not  know  the  range. 

Suddenly  Phil  saw  a  flash  far  out  on  the 
ocean. 

"  See,  a  shot,"  he  cried  breathlessly,  grasp 
ing  the  captain's  arm  in  his  excitement.  A 
distant  boom  came  to  their  ears. 

Flash  followed  flash  in  rapid  succession, 
as  if  a  firefly  were  flying  low  above  the 
horizon.  Then  a  white  shaft  of  light  cut 
the  blackness,  swung  undecidedly  to  and  fro, 
and  then  held  steadily  on  the  water. 

Phil's  glasses  trembled  as  he  gazed  at  the 
end  of  the  light  shaft. 

Captain  Garcia's  voice  rang  out  joyfully 
when  his  keen  eyes  saw  the  small  white  ob 
ject  under  the  search-light's  ray,  far  out  on 
the  ocean. 


220  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Be  ready,  men,  she's  coming  this  way. 
Either  they  will  sink,  or  we  shall.  You 
must  choose — I  promise  full  pardon  to  all 
— if  we  sink  her." 

A  low  murmur  ran  along  the  decks.  In  it 
were  betrayed  both  joy  and  fear  : — -joy  for  the 
promised  reprieve,  fear  at  the  sudden  un 
known  danger  of  the  approaching  torpedo- 
boat. 

O'Neil's  clear  voice  was  raised  in  cau 
tioning. 

"  Steady,  men.  Don't  fire ;  she's  too  far 
away.  Wait  till  I  give  you  the  word.  Then 
fire  for  your  lives." 

The  "  Aquadores  "  turned  swiftly  toward 
the  object  illuminated  by  the  search-light  of 
the  "  Barcelo."  The  former  ship  was  in  com 
plete  darkness. 

"  Can  you  read  the  range?  "  questioned  the 
captain's  eager  voice. 

Phil  put  his  eyes  to  the  range  finder  and 
moved  a  switch  which  made  the  torpedo-boat's 
bright  hull  appear  as  a  line  of  light.  He 
moved  his  wheel  and  brought  the  direct  and 
reflected  rays  together. 

"  Five  thousand  yards,"  he  announced. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  221 

"  Let  me  know  when  she  is  twenty-five 
hundred  yards  away,"  said  Captain  Garcia. 

The  "  Aquadores "  was  steaming  at  full 
speed  toward  the  rapidly  moving  torpedo- 
boat.  They  were  approaching  each  other  at 
terrific  speed,  yet  to  the  overwrought  mid 
shipman  it  seemed  an  age  when  his  range 
pointer  reached  the  distance  given  him  by  the 
captain. 

"  Twenty-five  hundred  yards,"  he  cried,  his 
voice  rising  with  an  excitement  he  was 
powerless  to  control. 

A  second  afterward  the  blinding  flashes 
from  the  "  Aquadores'  "  guns,  accompanied  by 
ear  splitting  discharges,  made  the  scene  on  the 
cruiser  one  of  terrible  splendor. 

The  "  Barcelo's  "  search-light  still  illumined 
the  enemy,  but  she  had  by  her  superior  speed 
drawn  out  of  range  of  the  former's  guns. 

Phil's  fascinated  gaze  held  to  the  torpedo- 
boat  with  grim  tenacity. 

"  She's  lost  her,"  he  cried,  as  the  end  of  the 
"  Barcelo's  "  search-light  swept  uncertainly 
over  the  water.  The  boat  had  vanished  into 
the  night. 

"  Cease    firing,"   cried   O'Neil's   stentorian 


222  A  UNITED  STATES 

voice,  as  he  saw  the  torpedo-boat  had  slipped 
away  from  the  discovering  light. 

The  "  Aquadores'  "  lights  were  flashed  and 
groped  about  in  despair  for  the  lost  vessel. 
The  sailors  stood  terrified  at  their  guns. 
O'Neil  walked  coolly  along  the  deck,  shaking 
men  roughly  to  wake  them  out  of  their  stupor 
of  fear — some  had  fallen  to  praying  on  their 
knees. 

"  When  we  pick  her  up  you'll  need  all  your 
prayers,"  he  cried,  "  if  you  don't  shoot." 

Phil  felt  he  was  nearer  a  panic  than  he  had 
ever  been  ;  he  walked  up  and  down,  his  eyes 
following  one  struggling  beam  and  then  the 
other  ;  he  almost  resolved  to  go  up  to  a  search 
light  himself.  Captain  Garcia  during  the  mo 
ments  of  uncertainty  had  turned  his  vessel  to 
ward  the  harbor's  entrance.  He  would  brave 
the  fire  of  the  forts  if  that  could  prevent  his 
prize  from  escaping.  He  was  ready  to  sacrifice 
his  ship  in  this  last  attempt. 

Suddenly  through  the  black  night  Phil 
saw  a  darker  shade  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 
It  seemed  but  a  stone's  throw  away.  His  voice 
was  paralyzed.  He  tried  to  speak  but  it  was 
impossible.  His  lips  gave  out  unintelligible 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  223 

sounds.  Grasping  Captain  Garcia's  arm,  he 
pointed  a  trembling  finger  at  the  dread  object. 

"  Port  quarter,  quick,  your  search-lights," 
shouted  the  captain. 

The  lights,  before  uncertain,  now  swung 
obediently  to  the  assigned  direction,  and  in 
the  bright  glare,  the  torpedo-boat  flashed  in 
sight  heading  bows  on  to  the  luckless  cruiser. 

"  Don't  look.  Shoot,"  cried  O'Neil  to  the 
gunners  fascinated,  terrified  ;  while  he  and 
Sydney  stormed  among  them. 

It  seemed  ages  before  the  tension  was  re 
lieved  by  the  discharges  of  their  own  guns. 

The  torpedo-boat  was  so  close  that  the  range 
finder  could  not  get  her  distance.  She  could 
not  be  over  five  hundred  yards  away  and  com 
ing  on  with  terrific  speed.  Even  now  a  White- 
head  torpedo  might  be  speeding  below  the 
inky  water  on  its  mission  of  destruction. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

LAZAR'S  CUNNING 

THE  next  few  moments  were  ones  long  to  be 
remembered.  The  daring  torpedo-boat  was 
making  a  desperate  attempt  to  sink  the 
"  Aquadores,"  which  stood  between  herself 
and  safety.  Her  small  dark  hull  stood  out  as 
bright  as  day  under  the  search-light  beams. 
Hundred  pound  missiles  from  her  huge  enemy 
were  churning  the  water  to  foam  about  her  ; 
one  lucky  hit  and  she  would  be  no  more. 

With  heart  beating  tumultuously  and  breath 
abated,  Phil  saw  a  group  of  sailors  at  her  for 
ward  torpedo-tube.  Spellbound,  fascinated 
as  one  who  gazes  into  the  green  spark  like 
eyes  of  the  cobra,  he  could  not  take  his  eyes 
from  the  ominous  sight.  The  tube  moved 
slowly  around ;  those  moving  it  were  ap 
parently  careless  of  the  thunderbolts  striking 
so  near  them.  Two  of  the  men  stepped  back 
quickly,  one  remained  at  the  tube.  The 

224 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  22  f 

torpedo-boat  was  within  short  torpedo  range  of 
her  enemy. 

A  flash  of  fire  from  her  miniature  bow  ;  then 
a  great  geyser  of  water  shot  high  in  the  air 
from  under  her  forefoot.  At  last  a  shell  had 
reached  her.  Her  bow  sank  as  she  drove  for 
ward,  until  she  was  half  submerged.  Then, 
all  in  a  moment  it  seemed,  her  stern  lifted  in 
the  air,  and  the  last  of  the  rebel  navy  took 
a  graceful  dive  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean. 

The  incident  came  so  suddenly  that  but 
few  on  board  the  "  Aquadores  "  could  grasp 
the  meaning  of  what  had  happened.  The 
search-lights  showed  a  seething  sea  where  the 
enemy  had  but  a  second  before  been  visible. 
The  gunners  of  the  "  Aquadores  "  could  see 
nothing  through  the  sights ;  the  discharges 
ceased  suddenly.  The  crew  gazed  about 
them  in  fear  that  some  new  and  more  danger 
ous  peril  was  at  hand. 

"  It  was  her  torpedo,"  Phil  cried  in  joyful 
relief.  "  She  fired  it,  and  as  it  struck  the 
water  a  six-inch  shell  must  have  hit  the  high 
explosive  head.  It's  all  over." 

"  Cease  firing,"  cried  O'Neil  as  he  saw 
some  of  the  gunners  were  about  to  reopen 


226  A  UNITED  STATES 

fire.  Phil's  words  had  been  in  English  and 
had  conveyed  no  intelligence  to  the  anxious 
sailors.  "  She's  gone  to  the  bottom,  now." 

Captain  Garcia  stood  overcome  with  con 
flicting  emotions.  After  his  first  wild  joy 
had  died  away  his  thoughts  dwelt  upon  the 
fate  of  the  brave  men  who  had  a  moment 
before  with  splendid  courage  aimed  a  deadly 
blow  at  his  vessel. 

The  "  Aquadores "  was  brought  to  rest 
amid  the  whirling  eddies,  the  aftermath  of 
the  explosion  of  hundreds  of  pounds  of  gun- 
cotton  ;  but  there  was  not  a  living  shape  on 
the  surface  of  the  sea:  all  had  perished 
gallantly  and  their  torpedo-boat  had  fur 
nished  their  bodies  a  fitting  sepulchre. 

Four  days  brought  the  cruiser  in  sight  of 
La  Boca.  To  the  three  Americans  on  her 
bridge,  straining  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of 
their  ship,  it  seemed  an  age  since  the  day  on 
which  they  had  set  out  so  cheerfully  to  seek 
information  within  the  rebel  lines.  The  ex 
periences  of  the  past  ten  days  were  like  a  bad 
dream  from  which  they  were  fast  awaken 
ing. 

Rounding   the  headland  the  harbor  burst 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  227 

into  view  with  its  fleet  of  vessels  anchored 
therein. 

"  The  whole  battle-ship  squadron  is  there," 
exclaimed  Phil  in  amazement.  "  What  does  it 
mean  ?  " 

There  was  no  reply.  Captain  Garcia's  face 
showed  that  he  too  was  surprised. 

"  There  can  be  but  one  explanation,"  he 
answered ;  "  your  government  fears  the  in 
tervention  of  some  foreign  power.  That 
array  of  fighters  would  deter  any  open  act." 

The  "  Aquadores "  and  the  captured 
"  Barcelo  "  steamed  in  between  the  sentinel 
forts  at  the  entrance  and  then  between  the 
lines  of  the  American  war  vessels. 

Cheer  after  cheer  arose  from  the  mighty 
ships  as  the  battle-scarred  veterans  steamed 
swiftly  past. 

The  lads'  nerves  tingled  and  Captain 
Garcia's  eyes  filled  with  tears.  He  was 
touched  beyond  words  at  this  enthusiastic 
greeting. 

As  soon  as  the  "  Aquadores  "  was  anchored 
the  Americans  were  ready  to  leave  the  ship 
on  board  which  they  had  been  through  so 
many  thrilling  scenes. 


228  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  am  sorry  to  part,"  Captain  Garcia  de 
clared  with  genuine  grief.  "  You  have  all 
endeared  yourselves  to  me  in  many  ways." 

They  expressed  their  thanks  to  the  gallant 
captain  and  as  they  passed  through  the  motley 
crew  the  men  broke  out  in  excited  cheers  for 
"  los  Americanos."  O'Neil  was  surrounded  by 
an  admiring  crowd,  all  shouting  enthusiastic 
ally  ;  they  hugged  him  and  cried  over  him 
and  would  have  forcibly  detained  him  on 
board.  O'Neil  stood  it  like  a  stoic. 

"  Them  dagos  are  like  a  lot  of  women  at  a 
wedding,"  the  boatswain's  mate  declared  dis 
gustedly,  when  they  had  left  the  ship  and 
were  being  rowed  across  the  water  to  the 
"  Connecticut."  "  You'd  thought  I  was  the 
bride,  the  way  they  embraced  me." 

"  I  am  glad  we  can  talk  our  own  tongue 
once  more,"  remarked  Phil.  "  It  seems  so 
long  since  I  used  it  that  I'll  be  talking  Span 
ish  to  everybody  I  meet ;  I  have  the  habit." 

A  steam  launch  flying  the  American  flag 
passed  close  by  the  Americans  in  their  boat 
flying  the  Verazala  flag  at  the  stern.  An 
officer  wearing  the  uniform  of  an  ensign 
saluted  promptly. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          229 

"  That's  the  last  salute  we'll  get  from  an 
ensign  for  some  years,"  chuckled  Sydney  as 
they  returned  the  salute.  "  Wouldn't  that 
fellow  feel  cheap  if  he  knew  we  were  only 
midshipmen." 

"  I  had  quite  forgotten  how  we  are  dressed," 
Phil  laughed,  "  but  it  was  these  or  noth- 
ing." 

A  few  moments  afterward,  they  climbed  the 
high  gangway  ladder  and  passed  through  two 
lines  of  saluting  sailors.  The  officer  of  the 
deck  of  the  "  Connecticut,"  a  lieutenant,  stood 
civilly  by  to  receive  the  foreign  officers. 

"  Why,  it's  Mr.  Perry,"  he  gasped,  wring 
ing  the  lad's  hand  gladly.  "  Whatever  are  you 
doing  in  those  togs?  We  had  given  all  three 
of  you  up  for  dead,"  he  added.  "  The  ad 
miral  and  Captain  Taylor  will  be  mighty 
glad  to  see  you.  We  are  flag-ship  now." 

The  lads  descended  to  their  room,  while 
O'Neil  was  escorted  forward  by  a  worshiping 
crowd  of  shipmates. 

The  boys  discarded  their  foreign  uniforms 
and  donning  their  simple  midshipman's 
clothes  were  ready  to  report  their  return  to 
their  commanding  officer. 


230  A  UNITED  STATES 

In  a  few  minutes  they  entered  the  cabin. 
Captain  Taylor's  face  was  smiling  with  joy  as 
he,  almost  embracing  the  midshipmen,  intro 
duced  them  to  the  commander-in-chief,  Ad 
miral  Spotts.  The  boys  were  abashed  in  the 
presence  of  such  an  important  personage. 

"  Gentlemen,  this  is  indeed  a  happy  mo 
ment,"  Captain  Taylor  exclaimed.  "  Before 
,the  cruisers  were  sighted  entering  the  harbor 
we  were  about  to  cable  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  the  news  of  your  deaths." 

"  Our  deaths,  sir  !  "  cried  both  lads  aghast. 

"  Yes,"  Captain  Taylor  explained.  "  We 
heard  four  days  ago  that  the  '  Aquadores  '  had 
been  sunk  with  all  on  board.  The  leader  of 
the  rebellion,  General  Ruiz,  gave  out  the  news 
as  received  by  cable  from  Rio  Grande.  We 
have  tried  to  catch  you  by  wireless  but  not 
receiving  any  answer  to  our  call,  we  feared 
the  news  was  authentic.  He  also  issued  an 
ultimatum  that  La  Boca  would  be  blockaded — 
Admiral  Spotts  with  his  squadron  was  or 
dered  here  from  the  West  Indies  and  arrived 
but  an  hour  ago." 

"  '  Aquadores  '  sunk  !  "  exclaimed  Phil. 
"  Why  should  he  give  such  information  ?  " 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          231 

"  What  did  happen  ?  Tell  us,"  questioned 
the  admiral  eagerly. 

"  The  '  Aquadores '  sunk  the  '  Soledad  '  and 
torpedo-boat    and    captured   the   '  Barcelo,'  ' 
Phil  replied  proudly,  then  he  described  all 
that  had  happened  since  they  had  left  the 
"  Connecticut." 

The  two  officers  listened  in  silence  at  the 
lad's  story,  told  simply  and  modestly.  He 
bestowed  unstinted  praise  on  his  two  com 
panions,  barely  mentioning  the  important 
part  that  he  himself  had  played,  which 
brought  from  Sydney  an  unselfish  protest. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  sir,  was  everything  to  us," 
Sydney  interrupted,  his  face  flushed  with  joy 
at  his  companion's  praises  for  him. 

When  Phil  had  told  of  the  part  they  had 
taken  in  the  sea  fights,  the  admiral  could 
contain  himself  no  longer ;  he  felt  his  boy 
hood  blood  once  more  flowing  through  his 
veins  ;  he  had  in  his  youth  taken  part  in 
many  a  fight  during  the  long  Civil  War. 

"  Our  only  excuse,"  Phil  ended  contritely, 
"  is  that  we  acted  in  self-defense." 

The  admiral  chuckled  gleefully. 

"  Self-defense,"  he  laughed.     "  You  young 


232  A  UNITED  STATES 

rascals,  you  did  it  for  the  love  of  fighting. 
Now  own  up  to  it  !  If  you  had  done  other 
wise  I'd  have  had  you  all  court-martialed." 
He  lowered  his  voice.  "  You  have  done  a 
great  service  to  your  country  ;  when  the  news 
of  the  sinking  of  the  '  Aquadores '  reached 
Europe,  three  countries  there  acknowledged 
the  rebels  as  belligerents,  which  gave  General 
Ruiz  the  temerity  to  declare  the  blockade. 
If  this  is  established  our  country's  commercial 
interests  will  suffer  to  the  extent  of  many  mil 
lions  of  dollars  a  day.  My  orders  are  if  the 
rebel  war-ships  attempt  to  stop  our  merchant 
men  from  entering  or  leaving  this  port  to  put 
an  end  to  the  blockade  by  force,  and  you  see 
I  have  the  force,"  he  added  smiling.  "  But 
why  did  you  not  send  us  a  wireless  instead  of 
keeping  us  in  this  suspense  ?  " 

"  We  couldn't,  sir/'  Phil  explained  ;  "  our 
wireless  was  totally  wrecked  in  the  first  en 
gagement." 

The  lads  were  indeed  happy.  Instead  of 
being  punished  for  their  acts,  the  admiral 
was  praising  them.  They  dared  not  look  at 
each  other ;  they  feared  they  would  shout  out 
with  excess  of  joy. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  233 

"  For  the  present  of  course  everything 
must  be  kept  secret,"  the  admiral  cautioned, 
rising  to  depart,  "  but  bear  in  mind,  I  shall 
not  forget  your  valuable  services." 

He  nodded  to  the  captain  and  smiled  at 
the  joyous  lads  ;  then  passed  into  his  own 
cabin,  leaving  the  midshipmen  alone  with 
Captain  Taylor. 

Phil  asked  the  question  which  had  been 
trembling  on  his  lips  during  all  the  time  the 
admiral  was  talking : 

"  Where  are  the  arms,  sir  ?  " 

"  They  are  safe  in  the  legation,"  the  captain 
replied  gladly ;  "  you  were  grossly  misin 
formed  by  that  scoundrel  Juarez.  As  soon  as 
your  cipher  message  was  translated,  I  took 
Mr.  Penfield  with  me  and  we  went  ashore  to 
the  legation.  We  saw  Mr.  Lazar  and  showed 
him  your  message.  He  took  us  immediately 
to  the  cellar  of  the  minister's  residence  and 
pointed  out  the  boxes,  all  intact ;  he  opened 
for  us  the  box  which  you  had  half  opened  on 
the  launch  the  night  of  the  capture ;  the 
arms  were  in  plain  view.  It  was  but  a  plot 
of  the  rebels  to  make  you  betray  the  arms  to 
them." 


234  A  UNITED  STATES 

"Where  are  the  rebel  lines?"  Phil  asked, 
unconvinced  ;  "  have  they  approached  nearer 
to  the  city  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Captain  Taylor  answered,  "  the  two 
armies  are  now  intrenched  with  but  a  scant 
one  thousand  yards  between  them.  General 
Ruiz  threatens  to  assault  the  city  momentarily. 
We  believed  he  was  awaiting  his  war-ships  to 
shell  the  government  forces  from  inside  the 
harbor ;  but  your  story  disproves  that  con 
jecture  unless  he  himself  has  been  misled." 

The  lads  soon  left  the  cabin  and  went  into 
their  own  mess  room.  Their  return  was 
hailed  with  enthusiasm,  but  neither  had  ears 
for  praise ;  there  was  still  work  in  hand. 

"What  do  you  think,  Syd,"  asked  Phil, 
on  reaching  the  quiet  of  their  room,  "  are  the 
arms  in  the  legation  ?  " 

"  The  captain  says  he  saw  them,"  replied 
Sydney  thoughtfully.  "  How  could  he  be  mis 
taken?" 

"  It  surely  seems  very  strange,"  declared 
the  other,  "  why  both  Juarez  and  General 
Ruiz  should  tell  us  they  were  not  in  the 
legation  but  safe  in  the  city  ready  to  be 
brought  into  the  rebel  lines.  Ruiz  thought 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          235 

himself  safe  in  telling  us  this  for  he  had  no 
idea  we  could  escape.  It  was  purely  provi 
dential  that  the  '  Aquadores '  came  along. 
Even  if  he  hadn't  shot  us,  he  surely  would 
have  kept  us  close  prisoners.  We  knew  too 
much  to  be  set  free." 

The  next  morning  the  lads  went  to  see 
Captain  Taylor.  They  had  thought  the 
matter  over  during  the  evening  and  had 
lain  awake  thinking  about  it  a  good  part 
of  the  night ;  they  were  no  nearer  a  solu 
tion  of  the  vexing  problem. 

Captain  Taylor  received  them  with  his 
usual  kindness. 

"  Captain,"  Phil  commenced  as  spokesman, 
"  please  do  not  believe  us  incredulous  always, 
but  the  idea  that  the  guns  are  elsewhere  than 
in  the  legation  has  taken  such  a  hold  on  us 
that  we  have  come  to  ask  you  to  take  us  to 
the  legation  with  you  this  morning." 

Captain  Taylor  looked  puzzled.  He  real 
ized  the  lads  were  in  deadly  earnest. 

"  Bless  me  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  If  it  will  ease 
your  minds,  of  course  I  shall  take  you." 

He  ordered  his  boat  and  the  boys  found 
themselves  shortly  climbing  Legation  Hill  on 


236  A  UNITED  STATES 

the  way  to  the  residence  of  the  American 
minister. 

"  I  feel  sure,"  spoke  Captain  Taylor  while 
they  climbed  the  steep  streets,  "  that  your 
doubts  will  soon  be  set  at  rest.  Mr.  Lazar 
is  a  careful  officer ;  he  has  shown  me  how 
he  has  placed  his  guards  and  it  seems  im 
possible  that  the  arms  could  be  taken  with 
out  detection.  The  guns,  I  explained  before, 
are  in  the  cellar.  There  is  but  one  exit,  a 
stairway  leading  up  to  the  ground  floor. 
At  the  top  of  the  stairs  is  a  door  and  there 
two  sentinels  are  posted  night  and  day. 
Machinist's  Mate  Craig,  the  man  who  was 
wounded  in  your  expedition,  sleeps  on  a  cot 
in  the  cellar  within  reach  of  the  boxes.  So 
you  see  how  well  they  have  been  guarded  ? 
The  full  force  of  the  guard  are  encamped  on 
the  grounds  of  the  legation  and  are  ready  for 
instant  call." 

Phil  and  Sydney  exchanged  knowing 
glances.  Craig — Lazar's  tool  I  The  arms 
were  surely  not  in  the  legation  ! 

Lazar  met  them  at  the  gate  and  saluted 
the  captain.  He  bowed  to  the  lads  in  mock 
courtesy. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  237 

"  I  am  delighted,"  he  said,  "  to  see  you 
are  safe."  He  did  not  offer  his  hand.  He 
doubtless  knew  it  would  be  ignored  by  the 
midshipmen. 

"  Mr.  Lazar,"  Captain  Taylor  began  merrily, 
"  Mr.  Perry  and  Mr.  Monroe  wish  to  be  con 
vinced  that  we  still  hold  the  guns  securely,  so 
I  have  brought  them  to  feast  their  eyes  on 
their  captured  arms." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  Lazar  smartly, 
leading  the  way  into  the  legation. 

The  boys  were  welcomed  by  both  Marshall 
and  Morrison,  who  would  have  plied  them 
with  many  anxious  questions,  but  the  lads 
were  too  impatient  to  see  the  boxes  in  the 
cellar  of  the  legation. 

The  minister  received  the  captain  cordially. 
The  latter  explained  his  mission. 

"  When  you  have  had  a  look  below  there," 
the  minister  said,  "  I  would  like  to  see  you 
in  the  office.  I  have  news  that  may  interest 
you." 

Reaching  the  cellar  the  lads  saw  Craig, 
looking  pale  and  haggard,  standing  beside  the 
boxes.  He  gave  them  a  quick  glance  in 
which  Phil  thought  he  read  terror.  He  had 


238  A  UNITED  STATES 

seen  that  same  look  on  many  human  faces 
in  the  last  few  weeks. 

Lazar  picked  up  a  hatchet  and  bared  the 
contents  of  a  box. 

The  lads  peered  in.  There  were  the  Colt 
guns  :  two  barrels,  two  tripods  and  the  acces 
sory  boxes. 

Phil  glanced  up  and  caught  Lazar's  eye. 
The  latter  smiled  confidently. 

"  Are  you  satisfied  ?  "  he  asked,  a  sneer  in 
his  voice. 

Phil  reached  for  the  hatchet,  but  Lazar  ig 
nored  the  motion  and  stepping  away  stood 
beside  Captain  Taylor. 

"  That  man  of  yours,  Lazar,"  said  the  latter 
in  a  low  voice,  "  should  not  be  made  to  sleep 
in  this  damp  hole  any  longer.  He  seems  to 
show  the  effects  greatly.  I  believe  I  shall 
order  him  back  to  the  ship.  You  can  pick 
out  another  reliable  man  to  take  his  place 
and  change  them  often." 

"  I  shall  relieve  him  immediately,  sir,  but, 
with  your  permission,  I  would  like  to  re 
tain  him  with  me.  He  is  a  valuable  man  to 
me." 

"  Have    it    your   own    way,"    the    captain 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  239 

agreed,  "  but  don't  let  him  sleep  there  any 
longer  ;  he  appears  a  sick  man." 

Phil  watched  Captain  Taylor  and  Lazar 
move  slowly  up  the  steps.  The  former  threw 
an  inquiring  glance  over  his  shoulder  at  the 
lads  standing  determinedly  in  the  cellar. 
The  officers  disappeared  and  the  midshipmen 
heard  their  footsteps  enter  the  minister's 
office  above. 

Phil  turned  a  glance  full  of  pity  on  Craig. 
The  sailorman  shook  as  if  with  ague. 

"Are  you  ill?"  asked  Phil  in  sympathy. 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  don't  want  to  stay  here  any 
longer,"  the  miserable  man  pleaded.  "  Can't 
you,  sir,  get  me  back  on  board  ship  ?  " 

Phil  noticed  the  unhealthy  pallor  on  the 
man's  cheeks. 

"  Have  you  a  cough?  "  he  asked. 

"  Only  lately,  sir,  but  it  seems  to  get 
worse,"  he  answered. 

Sydney  had  been  rummaging  about  in  the 
cellar;  he  now  appeared  with  a  piece  of  bar 
steel  pointed  on  the  end. 

"  Let's  open  another  box,  Phil,"  he  sug 
gested. 

After  a  few  minutes  the  cover  of  a  box  was 


240  A  UNITED  STATES 

pried  open.  The  lads  gave  a  gasp  of  surprise. 
It  contained  only  rocks.  Another  and  an 
other  lid  was  forced,  until  the  last  box  was 
opened  to  the  light.  Not  one  contained  arms 
but  were  piled  to  the  top  with  rocks ;  only 
the  one  examined  by  Lazar  held  arms. 

Craig  was  stupefied  with  terror. 

"  If  you  wish  to  save  yourself,"  Phil 
whispered,  turning  upon  the  frightened 
sailor,  "  tell  us  where  the  guns  have  been 
taken.  We  know  you  have  been  forced  to 
do  this  work." 

The  man's  knees  shook  and  his  voice  failed 
him. 

"  He'll  kill  me  if  I  tell,"  he  whined  piti 
fully. 

"  No,  he  won't,"  Phil  hastily  assured  him. 
"  We  shall  tell  him  nothing.  We  promise." 

"  They  were  taken  through  this  under 
ground  passageway  to  the  next  house,"  Craig 
replied  in  a  terrified  whisper,  showing  the 
cleverly  concealed  opening  to  a  secret  tunnel 
underneath  the  cellar  floor ;  "  they  are  now 
in  Mr.  Juarez's  house  at  La  Mesa.  I  over 
heard  the  order  given  to  hide  them  there." 

The    lads    had    discovered   quite   enough. 


m 

SEIZED  ONLY  A  CARGO 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  241 

They  ascended  the  steps  and  walked  ex 
citedly  to  the  minister's  office. 

Captain  Taylor  at  once  noticed  the  agitation 
on  their  faces. 

"What's  the  matter?"  he  inquired  in 
alarm. 

"  Please  come  with  us,  sir,"  Phil  begged 
in  as  calm  a  voice  as  he  could  muster. 

The  captain  and  Lazar  followed  the  mid 
shipmen  back  to  the  cellar. 

A  cry  of  surprise  escaped  from  Captain 
Taylor  when  he  saw  the  contents  of  the  re 
maining  boxes. 

Lazars  face  was  a  study.  A  cynical  smile 
curled  his  mouth.  His  manner  was  calm. 
He  held  himself  perfectly  under  control. 

"  I  fear  the  rebels  were  too  cunning  for 
you,  Mr.  Perry,"  he  said  casting  a  look,  full 
of  hatred,  at  the  midshipman.  "  You 
thought  you  had  arms,  but  you  seized  only 
a  cargo  of  rocks." 

"  But  the  one  box,"  exclaimed  Captain 
Taylor. 

"  Only  a  clever  ruse,  I  presume,"  Lazar 
explained  promptly ;  "  that  one  was  placed  on 
the  launch  in  just  such  a  manner  as  a  card 


242  A  UNITED  STATES 

trickster  forces  on  you  a  card  from  his  pack. 
It  was  the  logical  one  to  open.  The  remain 
ing  arms  are  probably  by  now  in  the  hands 
of  the  insurgents." 

Both  lads  gasped  at  the  scoundrel's  deceit, 
and  hot  words  came  in  their  thoughts,  but 
their  promise  to  Craig  held  them  unspoken. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE    HOUSE    ON    LA    MESA 

CAPTAIN  TAYLOR  was  quite  satisfied  upon 
hearing  Lazar's  ready  explanation.  The 
thought  that  the  latter  was  aught  but  the 
honorable,  efficient  officer  that  he  appeared 
never  entered  his  generous  mind.  He  gazed 
at  the  lads  with  compassion  on  his  kindly 
face. 

"  It  must  be  a  great  disappointment,"  he 
said  to  the  silent,  stunned  lads.  "  You  have 
worked  so  hard  and  then  to  be  hoodwinked 
by  the  villainous  cunning  of  the  vice-consul 
must  indeed  be  hard.  But  never  mind,  his 
just  retribution  will  overtake  him  if  the  gov 
ernment  is  successful." 

In  silence  they  ascended  the  stairs  and  en 
tered  the  minister's  office.  That  official  had 
just  received  news  that  seemed  to  put  him  in 
an  excited  state  of  mind. 

"  Captain,  I  was  just  about  to  tell  you  when 
you  so  hastily  left  me  a  moment  ago,"  he  be- 

243 


244  A  UNITED  STATES 

gan  rapidly,  "  that  I  have  received  reliable 
information  that  General  Ruiz  at  last  is  going 
to  make  a  determined  assault  on  the  city. 
My  informant  says  the  force  of  the  attacking 
army  will  be  concentrated  on  Tortuga  Hill  ; 
it  is  a  high,  round-top  hill  to  the  right  of  the 
city.  This  appears  to  be  the  key  to  the  situa 
tion  and  is  now  well  fortified.  I  want  your 
advice  as  to  whether  I  shall  give  the  informa 
tion  to  the  president  in  order  that  his  general 
may  be  prepared  to  defend  that  position." 

"  Most  certainly,"  Captain  Taylor  replied 
at  once,  showing  in  his  calm  face  a  spark  of 
excitement.  "  The  admiral's  orders  are,  you 
know,  to  uphold  the  government ;  we  have 
thrown  our  fortune  into  the  scale  against  the 
rebels.  When  will  the  assault  take  place  ?  " 

"  That  my  informant  does  not  know,"  an 
swered  the  minister,  "  but  he  believes  it  will 
be  very  soon,  perhaps  to-day  or  to-morrow." 

"  From  whom  does  this  information  come, 
sir?"  hazarded  Phil,  bluntly.  His  interest 
was  so  intense  that  he  quite  forgot  his  teach 
ing  that  midshipmen  should  stay  in  the  back 
ground  of  their  seniors'  affairs. 

The  minister  looked  surprisedly  at   him  ; 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          245 

then  his  face  beamed  with  pleasure  as  he 
recognized  the  lad. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  your  work  and  that  of  your 
companions  has  awakened  our  admiration," 
he  exclaimed,  shaking  the  boy's  hand.  "  I 
trust  you  will  not  again  prove  that  my  in 
formation  is  wrong ;  "  he  smiled  ruefully  ; 
"  the  man  who  brings  me  this  is  a  member  of 
a  rich  and  powerful  business  firm.  He  has 
too  much  at  stake  to  afford  to  see  the  city 
given  over  to  the  lawless  army  of  General 
Ruiz  and  yet  he  dares  not  take  his  informa 
tion  to  the  government  for  fear  of  the  rebel 
sympathizers  within  the  city ;  so  he  has 
brought  it  to  me  and  begged  me  to  see  that 
it  was  received  at  once  at  the  president's 
palace." 

The  explanation  sounded  plausible ;  yet 
there  was  a  flaw.  Could  this  man  be  a  mem 
ber  of  the  firm  of  La  Fitte  and  Company? 
Did  the  minister  suspect  that  Juarez  had 
been  hand  and  glove  with  this  firm  ?  Phil 
thought  he  saw  the  trick  ;  if  the  arms  were 
on  La  Mesa  then  there  would  be  the  assault. 
General  Ruiz,  or  more  likely  Juarez,  had  sent 
this  information  in  order  that  the  greater  part 


246  A  UNITED  STATES 

of  the  government  force  would  be  removed  to 
Tortuga  Hill  and  away  from  the  real  ob 
jective. 

"  Then  I  shall  send  the  despatch  immedi 
ately,"  the  minister  added,  addressing  Captain 
Taylor.  "  Will  you  notify  Admiral  Spotts  as 
to  what  I  have  done?  " 

Phil  was  strongly  tempted  to  stop  the 
despatch  by  telling  of  the  arms,  when  he 
remembered  he  could  not  do  this  without 
bringing  to  a  crisis  his  enmity  with  Lazar ; 
but  of  the  latter's  evil  deeds  he  had  no  proofs. 

Shortly  the  captain,  Sydney  and  Phil  left 
the  legation  and  walked  toward  the  landing- 
pier  to  take  their  boat  back  to  the  ship. 

After  their  arrival  on  board,  the  boys  got 
the  chart  of  La  Boca  from  the  navigator  and 
studied  the  surroundings. 

"  Here  is  La  Mesa,"  Phil  exclaimed,  point 
ing  with  his  finger,  "  and  here  is  Tortuga  Hill. 
Nowhere  near  each  other.  Do  you  see  the 
ruse,  Syd  ?  La  Mesa  will  be  the  main  point 
of  attack,  for  if  they  can  take  that  hill  they 
will  have  the  machine-guns.  Then  with 
these  guns  mounted  they  can  command  the 
city  from  behind  and  where  the  cruiser's 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  247 

guns  can  do  but  little  damage  ;  while  Tortuga 
Hill  is  near  enough  to  the  sea  for  the  '  Aqua- 
dores '  to  shell  the  rebels  out  if  they  were 
fortunate  enough  to  capture  it." 

"  What  can  we  do  ? "  pondered  Sydney, 
agreeing  with  his  chum  on  every  point. 

"It's  surely  puzzling,"  rejoined  he;  "we 
might  have  stopped  the  message,  but  we 
should  have  found  ourselves  very  much  in 
volved  by  so  doing  and  I  fear  if  we  made  our 
charges  against  Lazar  without  being  able  to 
furnish  sufficient  evidence,  we  would  be  in  a 
difficult  position  with  both  admiral  and  cap 
tain,  and  besides  would  break  our  promise  to 
Craig." 

A  few  hours  later  they  and  their  faithful 
boatswain's  mate,  having  received  the  neces 
sary  permission,  were  once  more  ashore.  This 
time  they  were  in  uniform,  with  heavy  Colt 
revolvers  in  their  holsters.  They  trudged  up 
the  hill  back  of  the  town,  known  to  the 
natives  as  La  Mesa. 

O'Neil  had  been  informed  about  the  stolen 
arms,  and  his  keen  judgment  had  suggested  an 
immediate  and  personal  investigation  of  the 
locality. 


248  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  hill  was  steep  but  not  high  and  but 
sparsely  inhabited.  At  the  top  they  knew  was 
the  residence  of  Juarez. 

On  reaching  the  summit  they  gazed  about 
them.  Further  inland  away  from  the  city  was 
a  second  hill  higher  than  La  Mesa ;  in  fact  La 
Mesa  was  not  a  hill  but  a  flat  spur  of  the  hill 
in  front.  On  top  of  the  latter  they  could  see 
a  battery  of  loyal  artillery.  To  their  right 
and  left  the  lines  of  the  defenders  were  in 
sight,  each  prominent  point  well  supplied 
with  men  and  guns.  Far  away  to  their  left 
rose  Tortuga  Hill,  and  trailing  up  its  steep 
slope  were  visible  small  objects  which  the  lads 
knew  were  reinforcements. 

"  The  reserves,"  Phil  exclaimed  pointing  to 
the  turtle  shaped  hill ;  "  the  minister's  message 
has  arrived  and  is  being  acted  upon." 

O'Neil  had  left  the  lads  deep  in  the  study 
of  the  strategic  positions  of  the  defense  and 
was  bent  on  investigating  the  houses  on  the 
table-like  hill.  He  entered  the  garden  of  a 
prosperous  looking  building  and  strolled 
slowly  toward  the  house ;  knocking  loudly 
on  the  door,  he  waited,  listening  for  footsteps 
within.  He  heard  a  sound  of  some  one  mov- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  249 

ing  about  and  then  a  hurried  whispering.  A 
few  moments  and  the  door  was  opened  slowly  ; 
a  man's  face  peered  through  the  narrow  slit. 

"What  do  you  want?"  the  man  asked 
gruffly  in  Spanish. 

"  Does  Sefior  Juarez  live  here  ?  "  O'Neil 
asked  in  the  same  tongue. 

The  man's  face  blanched  and  he  would  have 
closed  the  door,  but  the  sailor's  heavily  booted 
shoe  had  wedged  it  open. 

"  Not  so  fast,"  he  added  sternly  ;  "  answer 
my  question." 

The  man  stared,  an  angry  scowl  on  his  face. 

"  He  is  not  here,"  he  snarled. 

"  I  asked  you  if  he  lived  here,"  O'Neil  cor 
rected,  wedging  the  door  further  open  with  the 
powerful  force  of  his  body,  "not  if  he  was  here." 

The  sound  of  whispering  from  behind  the 
door  caused  his  hand  to  go  quickly  to  his 
revolver  holster.  The  door  suddenly  swung 
open  and  the  sailor  found  himself  inside  in 
inky  darkness.  The  door  had  closed  with  a 
snap  behind  him. 

He  held  his  revolver  in  his  hand,  his  finger 
on  the  trigger,  his  ears  straining  to  locate  an 
enemy. 


250  A  UNITED  STATES 

He  heard  a  noise  behind  him  and  swinging 
around  fired  directly  toward  the  sound.  The 
flash  of  his  pistol  lit  up  the  dark  hall  for  the 
fraction  of  a  second,  but  before  he  could  seek 
a  protecting  wall  he  was  struck  heavily  from 
behind  and  his  senses  left  him. 

"  A  shot,  did  you  hear  it  ?  "  cried  Sydney 
swinging  about  in  the  direction  of  the  cluster 
of  buildings.  "  Why,  where's  O'Neil  ?  "  he 
added  in  alarm,  noting  that  the  sailor  was  no 
where  in  sight. 

With  an  apprehension  of  coming  evil  they 
walked  hastily  toward  the  building  from 
which  they  had  heard  the  report  of  fire 
arms. 

Phil  uttered  a  cry  of  dismay  and  ran  up  the 
steps  of  the  large  house. 

"  O'Neil's  hat,"  he  cried,  a  terrible  dread  in 
his  voice.  "  There's  been  foul  play  here." 

"  Juarez's  house,"  said  Sydney  aghast,  "  and 
O'Neil  is  inside  alone." 

They  looked  about  for  assistance.  There 
was  none  nearer  than  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
where  a  company  of  infantry  were  encamped. 

"What  shall  we  do  ?"  questioned  Sydney 
in  despair.  "  They  may  murder  him  ;  and  if 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          251 

we  attempt  to  force  an  entrance  they  could 
dispatch  us  without  fear  of  detection  and  we 
would  do  O'Neil  no  good." 

"  Come,"  cried  Phil  clutching  his  com 
panion's  arm  and  dragging  him  away.  "  You 
go  down  to  that  camp  and  ask  for  aid.  I  shall 
stay  here  and  keep  guard.  They  undoubtedly 
thought  he  was  alone,  and  if  they  haven't  al 
ready  seen  us  we  may  surprise  them." 

Sydney  found  the  soldiers  only  too  willing 
to  aid  them  and  he  soon  returned  with  a 
lieutenant  and  thirty  men. 

Phil  quickly  explained  the  situation.  The 
lieutenant  stationed  his  men  about  the  house, 
surrounding  it  on  all  sides. 

Phil  and  Sydney  knocked  heavily  on  the 
door  ;  there  was  no  answer.  They  tried  to 
force  it,  but  it  was  of  stout  material  and  doubly 
barred  on  the  inside. 

"  A  battering  ram,"  Sydney  cried.  The 
willing  soldiers  soon  brought  a  huge  log  of 
wood  and  after  a  few  minutes'  pounding  the 
door  flew  inward  in  pieces. 

With  drawn  revolvers  and  followed  by  a 
file  of  soldiers  they  entered  the  gloom  of  the 
house. 


252  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  lads  cast  bewildered  looks  about  them. 

"  Blood,"  cried  Phil  aghast,  pointing  a 
trembling  finger  at  a  dark  stain  on  the 
polished  floor. 

He  raised  his  hand  for  silence  ;  but  there 
was  no  sound  audible  save  the  beating  of  their 
own  hearts  and  the  heavy  breathing  of  the 
soldiers. 

Each  floor  of  the  house  was  searched  dili 
gently,  but  no  trace  could  be  found  of  the 
missing  sailor  ;  the  house  was  empty  of  hu 
man  beings. 

The  boys  were  quite  overwhelmed  at  the 
suddenness  of  the  blow  ;  O'Neil  was  perhaps 
done  to  death  almost  within  sound  of  their 
voices. 

"  The  men  who  have  done  this  deed  must 
yet  be  in  the  house,"  Sydney  exclaimed ; 
"  they  could  not  have  escaped  without  de 
tection  ;  there  must  be  a  secret  chamber. 
We  must  hunt  for  it;  we  cannot  give  up." 

Despairingly  the  searchers  moved  about 
from  room  to  room,  tapping  the  wall  and 
floor  in  a  vain  effort  to  discover  the  door 
they  felt  sure  must  be  there  concealed  ;  their 
exertions  were  for  naught. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          253 

The  lads  finally  came  back  to  the  telltale 
signs  on  the  floor. 

"  Look  there,"  cried  Phil  excitedly,  putting 
his  finger  on  a  large  hole  in  the  plastered  wall. 
"  We  heard  the  shot ;  it  was  from  O'Neil's  re 
volver,  and  there's  where  it  struck.  If  he  fired 
at  a  man  then  that's  his  blood  there  on  the 
floor,  not  O'Neil's ;  he  never  misses  his  aim  ; 
that  bullet  must  have  gone  through  a  man's 
chest ;  it's  just  the  right  height." 

"  Then  we'll  catch  them,"  Sydney  cried,  a 
ring  of  hope  in  his  voice,  "  for  they  can't  go 
far  with  a  wounded  man." 

Phil  had  dropped  to  his  knees  on  the  floor 
and  examined  the  blood  tracks  carefully. 

"  Do  you  see  ? "  he  said  to  Sydney,  close 
beside  him,  his  voice  low  but  excited,  "  the 
blood  stops  here.  The  wounded  man  stood 
here  for  a  number  of  seconds,  you  can  see 
that  by  the  quantity  of  blood." 

He  pounded  the  board  with  his  bare  fist ; 
but  it  gave  back  a  solid  sound. 

"  Hit  that  board  again,"  cried  Sydney,  his 
eyes  intent  on  the  edge  next  the  wall  near 
him. 

Phil  struck  the  board  a  resounding  blow. 


254  A  UNITED  STATES 

Its  edge  moved  ever  so  slightly.  Sydney 
grasped  a  bayonet  from  a  soldier  and  entered 
its  sharp  point  between  the  edge  of  the  board 
and  the  wall. 

In  but  a  moment  the  board  had  been  re 
moved  and  the  lads  peered  down  into  a  black 
pit  from  which  the  damp  smell  of  earth  came 
up  to  their  nostrils. 

The  silence  was  breathless.  The  first  to 
enter  might  be  killed  instantly  by  the  enemy 
cornered  like  rats  in  the  dark  hole. 

"  Light,  quick,"  whispered  Phil  to  a  wide- 
eyed  soldier. 

One  was  soon  brought  and  lowered  into  the 
yawning  chamber. 

"  It's  a  cellar,"  exclaimed  Phil  from  his 
knees,  his  head  peering  beneath  the  level  of 
the  floor ;  "  we  must  go  down." 

Some  of  the  soldiers  brought  a  rope  and 
knotted  it ;  the  dangling  end  led  down  to  the 
earth  floor  of  the  cellar. 

The  boys  with  revolvers  tightly  grasped 
descended  quickly,  their  hearts  beating 
wildly,  until  their  feet  struck  the  earth 
twenty  feet  below  them. 

The   light   from   above    threw   a  glimmer 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          255 

about  the  mouldy  cavern.  There  was  no 
one  there. 

"  The  guns,"  Sydney  whispered  suddenly, 
clutching  Phil's  arm  and  pointing  to  a  corner 
of  the  cellar.  There  was  a  large  pile  of  some 
objects  covered  carefully  with  canvas.  A 
closer  observation  showed  Sydney  was  right. 
The  machine  guns  and  many  boxes  of  ammu 
nition  were  stored  under  that  large  expanse 
of  canvas. 

The  lieutenant  and  five  of  his  men  slid 
down  on  the  rope,  their  rifles  rattling  mena 
cingly  ;  the  other  men  remained  at  the  top  of 
the  hole  ready  to  haul  the  men  up  from  be 
low  when  necessary. 

"  The  blood  leads  down  that  tunnel,"  Phil 
cried  in  alarm.  "  Two  men  could  stand  off 
two  dozen  in  that  place — but  we  must  attempt 
it.  Come  on,  Syd." 

Carrying  the  light  they  cautiously  ad 
vanced,  the  soldiers  slowly  bringing  up  the 
rear. 

"  A  door,"  Sydney  whispered  as  the  dim 
light  of  the  lantern  showed  the  tunnel  ending 
in  a  heavy  partition  of  wood. 

Calling    the    soldiers    forward,    the   party 


256  A  UNITED  STATES 

flung  themselves  against  the  door,  but  it 
had  doubtless  been  built  for  just  such  a  pur 
pose  and  withstood  each  successive  attempt. 

Some  of  the  men  went  back  for  the  battering 
ram  while  the  lads  examined  the  door  closely. 

"  There  is  blood  on  the  door,"  Phil  cried, 
showing  the  fresh  red  stains  on  his  hand 
from  contact  with  the  door.  "  But  where 
does  it  lead  ?  " 

"  I  believe  it  goes  into  the  next  house," 
cried  Sydney,  "  and  they'll  get  away  from  us. 
Tell  the  lieutenant  to  order  his  men  to  sur 
round  both  houses  on  each  side." 

The  lieutenant,  evidently  not  relishing  this 
uncertain  way  of  attack  in  a  dark  cellar 
with  but  a  poor  and  inefficient  lamp,  agreed 
readily  to  go  back  himself  to  see  that  both 
houses  were  covered  by  his  men. 

It  seemed  an  age  to  the  anxious  lads  until 
the  soldiers  returned  with  the  heavy  log. 

"  All  hands  now,"  cried  Phil,  he  and 
Sydney  laying  willing  hands  on  the  ram. 
"  Together  ;  there  she  goes." 

The  door  shivered  but  stood  firm.  Again 
and  again  the  log  was  launched  against  the 
heavy  door. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          257 

With  sweat  pouring  from  their  bodies,  their 
lungs  choked  with  dust,  they  put  forth  their 
entire  strength. 

"  It's  giving,"  cried  Phil,  as  the  ram  struck 
the  door  a  powerful  blow,  and  it  gave  way 
suddenly,  throwing  them  face  downward  on 
the  earth. 

A  flash  of  a  pistol  almost  in  their  faces ;  a 
sharp  report  echoing  deafeningly  in  the 
tunnel,  and  all  was  darkness. 

The  lads  on  their  hands  and  knees  crawled 
noiselessly  to  the  side  of  the  tunnel.  The 
lamp  had  been  upset  and  had  plunged  the 
tunnel  into  night.  The  soldiers'  stumbling 
footsteps  as  they  retreated  in  a  panic  toward 
the  exit  came  to  their  ears.  They  strained 
their  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  fallen  door 
but  could  see  nothing.  They  knew  their 
enemies  were  near  ;  the  pistol  flashed  so  close 
above  their  heads  that  their  nostrils  were 
stung  with  the  pungent  fumes  of  burnt 
powder. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE    DEFENSE 

THE  lads  dared  not  move.  Even  their 
breathing  might  attract  the  attention  of 
their  enemies,  ready  to  open  fire  at  the  first 
sound ;  their  number  they  could  but  con 
jecture  ;  O'Neil  had  not  been  overpowered 
by  only  one  man,  they  felt  sure. 

Down  on  their  hands  and  knees  in  dark 
ness  so  intense  that  they  could  not  see  an 
inch  before  their  eyes  they  waited,  with  bated 
breath,  for  they  knew  not  what. 

Suddenly  a  noise  in  front  of  them  awakened 
their  failing  hopes.  A  faint  glimmer  of  light, 
only  enough  to  penetrate  the  inky  veil  of 
night,  came  through  an  opening  beyond  the 
fallen  door.  An  excited  whisper  in  Spanish 
caught  their  ears. 

"  The  houses  are  surrounded  by  those 
miserable  soldiers ;  they  haven't  the  courage 
to  attack  us  themselves,  but  these  meddling 
Americans  fear  nothing." 

258 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  259 

"  They  seem  to  fear  something,  judging  by 
their  hasty  retreat  just  now  in  face  of  my 
revolver,"  another  voice  replied  in  a  louder 
tone.  "  We  have  cut  the  claws  of  one  of 
them  at  least  and  if  the  Americans  return 
down  the  tunnel  they'll  find  us  prepared  to 
give  them  a  hot  reception." 

Phil's  heart  leaped  to  his  throat ;  it  was 
the  voice  of  Colonel  Juarez.  How  badly 
had  O'Neil  been  injured?  This  man  was 
quite  capable  of  making  away  with  him  en 
tirely  if  it  would  serve  his  ends. 

"  You  must  not  stay  here,"  the  first  speaker 
declared  ;  "  you  should  go  at  once  to  General 
Ruiz's  lines  and  tell  him  how  I  am  situated. 
He  must  attack  immediately ;  if  he  delays 
the  arms  may  fall  into  our  enemy's  hands 
through  the  aid  of  these  Americans." 

"  How  can  I  escape  capture  ? "  Juarez 
asked  ;  "  even  if  I  could  avoid  the  soldiers,  I 
could  not  pass  through  the  government  lines 
without  challenge ;  if  it  were  night  it  might 
be  possible,  but  by  sunset  the  attack  will 
have  begun." 

"  It  is  now  but  two  o'clock,"  urged  the 
other,  "  and  if  I  am  captured  here  I  shall  be 


260  A  UNITED  STATES 

killed.  The  president  would  have  me  shot 
immediately  as  a  traitor." 

"  You  could  readily  explain  your  mission 
here,"  replied  Juarez's  voice,  "  you,  who  have 
been  so  loyal  to  the  government  cause." 

"  It  would  be  impossible,"  said  the  first 
speaker,  anxiously  ;  "if  the  arms  are  found 
here  and  afterward  the  plan  of  battle  shows 
that  Ruiz  massed  his  attacking  column  on 
this  hill  when  I  have  informed  the  American 
minister  that  Tortuga  Hill  was  the  real  ob 
jective,  you  see  how  black  a  case  they 
would  have  against  me.  One  small  seed  of 
suspicion  sown  at  this  time  and  I  am  lost." 

"  But  the  president  doesn't  know  that  you 
gave  this  information  to  the  minister,"  retorted 
Juarez. 

"  But,"  said  the  other  voice  promptly,  "  the 
minister  would  be  quick  to  clear  himself  by 
informing  on  me.  The  arms  must  not  be 
taken.  You  must  go  at  once." 

"  So  I  must  risk  my  life  to  save  yours  ;  is 
that  it?  "  questioned  Juarez  bitterly. 

"  You  are  in  my  pay  ;  why  shouldn't  you 
take  this  risk  ?  If  I  lose,  the  money  for  your 
work  can  never  be  paid." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  261 

There  was  silence  for  some  minutes.  Phil 
had  almost  made  up  his  mind  to  crawl  back 
down  the  tunnel,  but  he  realized  instantly 
that  the  noise  they  could  not  avoid  making 
would  draw  their  enemies'  fire  and  defeat  his 
design  of  getting  the  soldiers  to  again  enter 
the  tunnel  and  charge  room  beyond. 

His  better  course  was  to  remain  where  he 
was.  If  they  attacked  they  might  injure  their 
companion  who  was  there  with  these  two 
scheming  villains. 

The  first  speaker's  voice  sounded  again 
after  the  pause. 

"  I  came  here  in  my  automobile.  Can  you 
run  it?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Juarez  promptly. 

"  My  chauffeur  is  awaiting  me  at  the  foot  of 
La  Mesa  near  Sanchez's  Villa,"  continued  the 
other.  "  If  you  could  reach  the  car  you  could 
run  the  guards  on  the  El  Poso  road.  Just  be 
fore  you  get  to  the  outpost  slow  the  machine 
as  if  you  were  stopping  ;  then  throw  in  the 
high  gear  and  advance  the  spark  to  the  limit. 
The  soldiers  will  be  too  astonished  to  hit  you 
even  if  they  fire,  and  you  will  be  in  safety 
before  they  can  fire  more  than  one  shot  each." 


262  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Where  is  Pedro  ?  "  asked  Juarez.  "  You 
and  he  must  remain  here  and  guard  the  arms. 
As  long  as  you  fire  down  the  tunnel  the 
soldiers  will  be  afraid  to  enter  the  cellar.  The 
American  midshipmen  will  urge  them  to  re 
turn,  but  your  shots  will  prevent  their  courage 
from  returning  into  their  yellow  hearts.  I 
am  sick  of  these  natives ;  they  must  be  driven 
like  sheep.  The  more  I  see  of  their  valor  the 
more  I  am  convinced  that  the  city  is  ours  if 
we  can  gain  and  mount  these  machine  guns." 

"  Pedro  and  I  shall  remain  here,"  the  other 
answered  ;  "  he  is  not  badly  wounded  ;  it  is  but 
a  flesh  wound  on  the  arm.  He  is  now  above 
in  the  other  house  watching  the  soldiers  from 
one  of  the  windows." 

"  Help  me  with  this  American  pig/7  Juarez's 
voice  said  cruelly.  "  I'll  put  on  his  uniform, 
and  if  I  am  fortunate  enough  not  to  meet  one 
of  the  Americans  I  can  deceive  the  soldiers  ; 
they  do  not  know  me." 

The  lads  heard  O'Neil's  unresisting  body 
dragged  about  and  knew  that  Juarez  was 
divesting  the  sailor  of  his  uniform. 

"  I'd  like  to  finish  him,"  said  Juarez 
savagely,  but  the  other  objected. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  263 

"  No,  don't  waste  your  time  on  him,  every 
second  is  precious ;  they  may  return  any 
moment.  He's  thoroughly  stunned,  and  I 
can  take  care  of  him  if  he  comes  to." 

As  the  speaker's  voice  was  stilled,  the  lads 
heard  footsteps.  The  faint  light  died  into 
blackness.  They  were  glad  to  know  that 
O'Neil  was  not  seriously  hurt,  but  the  thought 
that  Juarez  might  escape  and  hasten  the  at 
tack  before  the  machine  guns  could  be 
rescued  stirred  them  to  the  highest  pitch  of 
anxiety.  They  listened  intently,  but  could 
hear  nothing  save  the  beating  of  their  own 
hearts.  Undoubtedly  Juarez  had  gone,  but 
the  other  man  was  surely  there  on  guard,  and 
soon  the  man  called  Pedro  would  join  him. 

Phil  dared  not  speak  ;  he  felt  immediate 
action  was  needed.  Suddenly  an  inspiration 
came  to  him.  He  slowly  and  cautiously 
moved  his  hand  toward  where  he  knew  his 
companion  must  be,  until  it  rested  over 
Sydney's  fingers.  Then  pressing  firmly  as  if 
his  friend's  hand  were  a  telegraph  key,  he 
signaled  the  one  word  in  the  naval  code  : 

"  Forward." 

His   companion  understood  and  answered 


264  A  UNITED  STATES 

by  a  steady  pressure  of  the  hand,  then  fol 
lowed  Phil  slowly  and  painfully  over  the 
fallen  door.  They  dared  not  breathe  ;  they 
must  now  be  within  arm's  length  of  their 
enemy.  Sydney's  hand  touched  Phil.  The 
shock  of  his  cold  touch  made  the  over 
wrought  lad  spring  to  his  feet,  pointing  his 
revolver  menacingly.  A  second  and  the 
situation  was  grasped.  They  were  alone  in 
the  tunnel. 

"  We  must  get  O'Neil  and  hurry.  The 
men  may  return  any  moment  and  we  must 
avoid  a  fight,"  whispered  Phil. 

By  the  sound  of  the  sailor's  breathing  they 
located  his  prostrate  body.  They  lifted  him 
carefully  and  picked  their  way  back  over  the 
fallen  door.  They  reached  the  opening  in  the 
cellar,  thankful  at  saving  their  shipmate  from 
the  hands  of  these  men,  who  would  have 
killed  him  without  pity  if  it  served  their 
ends. 

"  Go  up  first,  Syd,"  commanded  Phil.  Syd 
ney  hesitated,  casting  an  apprehensive  glance 
down  the  dark  tunnel.  If  the  men  came  back 
they  could  see  Phil  by  the  light  from  the  open 
ing  above. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  265 

"  Stand  back,"  Sydney  urged,  "  until  I  am 
ready  to  help  you  up." 

Sydney  ascended  quickly.  Phil  made  the 
rope  fast  around  the  body  of  the  unconscious 
man,  and  Sydney  slowly  hauled  O'Neil  to 
safety. 

Phil  was  alone  in  the  blackness  of  the 
cellar.  He  strove  against  the  fear  of  an  un 
known  danger.  It  seemed  an  age  before  the 
rope  was  free  and  came  swiftly  back  to  him. 

In  but  a  moment  they  emerged  from  the 
house  with  their  burden  into  the  warm  sun 
shine. 

"  Where  are  the  soldiers  ?  "  questioned  Syd 
ney  anxiously.  They  placed  the  unconscious 
sailor  on  the  soft  earth  and  looked  quickly 
about  them.  There  was  not  a  soldier  in  sight. 

"  Some  of  Juarez's  work,  you  can  be  sure 
of  that,"  replied  Phil  uneasily.  "  He  took  a 
desperate  risk  impersonating  O'Neil,  and 
probably  told  the  soldiers  they  were  no  longer 
needed,  and  the  lieutenant  was  glad  enough 
to  get  back  to  the  security  of  his  camp." 

"  I  wish  we  had  a  half  a  dozen  of  our  own 
men,"  Sydney  declared ;  "  we'd  have  those 
guns  safely  out  of  that  cellar  in  a  jiffy." 


266  A  UNITED  STATES 

Phil  dropped  down  on  his  knees  beside  the 
prostrate  sailor. 

"  See,"  he  cried  pointing  to  an  ugly  lump 
on  his  head,  "  they  stunned  him  by  a  blow 
on  the  head.  If  we  could  get  a  doctor  we'd 
soon  have  him  back  to  his  senses." 

Sydney  had  walked  over  to  the  brow  of  the 
hill  and  peered  below  at  the  soldiers'  camp. 
He  rushed  back  and  caught  Phil's  arm. 

"  See,  Phil,  there  he  goes  toward  that  group 
of  trees.  He  will  reach  the  automobile  and 
once  in  it  he  can  run  the  government  lines. 
Ruiz  will  attack  immediately  and  the  guns 
will  fall  into  his  hands  without  a  struggle. 
How  can  we  stop  him?  " 

Phil  had  been  too  engrossed  with  the  in 
juries  to  O'Neil  to  think  about  the  conse 
quences  of  Juarez's  escape.  The  ominous 
meaning  in  his  companion's  words  brought 
him  back  with  a  start  to  their  dangerous 
position. 

Casting  an  anxious  glance  at  the  unfortu 
nate  sailor  he  started  down  the  hill,  then 
compassion  for  O'Neil  made  him  return 
quickly  to  his  side. 

"  We    must   not   abandon    him   here,"    he 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          267 

cried.  "  Go,  Syd,  quick.  You  must  get 
down  there  and  prevent  Juarez's  escape." 

Sydney  needed  no  further  urging  and  Phil 
saw  him  dart  down  the  hill,  but  he  also  saw 
the  white  figure  of  Juarez  hastening  toward 
the  waiting  automobile. 

Phil  raised  the  stalwart  form  of  O'Neil  to 
his  shoulder  and  carried  him  slowly  down 
the  hill.  His  burden  was  great,  but  he  bore 
it  easily ;  thanks  to  his  athletic  training. 
Sydney  was  now  almost  among  the  soldiers  ; 
he  saw  them  turn  toward  the  approaching 
midshipman,  then  go  scurrying  away  after 
the  figure  in  O'Neil's  uniform. 

Phil  put  forth  his  young  strength  and  re 
doubled  his  speed  ;  a  cry  of  despair  escaped 
him.  A  dark  shape  darted  out  of  the  grove 
of  trees  and  sped  away  along  the  road,  leaving 
a  thick  cloud  of  dust  behind  it. 

"  The  automobile.  Shoot !  "  he  yelled  at 
the  top  of  his  lungs.  Yet  he  knew  his  voice 
could  not  be  heard  by  the  pursuing  soldiers. 
He  fairly  ran  down  the  hill  with  the  sailor's 
body  securely  on  his  shoulders.  The  sharp 
crack  of  rifle  shots  came  up  to  him  from  be 
low.  The  firing  spread  along  the  lines  of  the 


268  A  UNITED  STATES 

defending  army,  but  the  lad  saw  with  bitter 
ness  that  Juarez  would  not  be  stopped ;  the 
machine  was  running  at  top  speed  down 
the  military  road  straight  for  the  outpost  at 
El  Poso. 

Reaching  the  camp  Phil  laid  his  burden 
on  the  soft  grass.  He  was  breathless  with 
his  great  exertions  of  the  last  few  minutes. 
His  lungs  seemed  unable  to  get  enough  air. 

The  soldiers  were  returning  from  their 
futile  chase  after  Juarez. 

"  Quick,  a  doctor,"  Phil  ordered,  his  voice 
betraying  his  great  anxiety.  La  Mesa  and 
the  arms  now  would  surely  be  captured,  and 
Ruiz  would  take  the  city. 

"  A  medico,  senor  ?  "  questioned  an  officer, 
eying  the  prostrate  figure  on  the  grass.  Phil 
caught  him  roughly  by  the  arm. 

"Are  you  a  doctor?"  he  cried  excitedly. 
"  This  man  has  been  stunned  by  a  blow  in 
the  head.  Can  you  bring  him  to  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  time  to  attend  to  the  wounded 
of  the  enemy,"  the  doctor  replied,  shaking 
him  off. 

"  He  is  not  an  enemy,"  Phil  cried,  tearing 
off  the  insurgent  coat  of  Juarez  from  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  269 

scantily  clad  sailor ;  "  he  is  an  American,  one 
of  my  companions.  We  need  his  services 
badly,"  the  lad  begged,  throwing  a  glance  up 
toward  La  Mesa. 

"  An  American,"  the  doctor  exclaimed  in 
genuine  surprise,  bending  at  once  over  the 
senseless  body.  He  then  stood  up  and  called 
for  his  assistants  and  together  they  carried 
him  inside  the  hospital  tent  near  by. 

Phil,  relieved  of  his  charge,  looked  anx 
iously  about  for  the  lieutenant.  He  saw  him 
returning  with  Sydney  from  their  race  after 
the  automobile. 

"  Come  quick,  Syd,  we  want  all  these 
soldiers,"  he  shouted,  turning  back  up  the 
hill.  The  lieutenant  waved  his  hand  and 
gave  rapid  orders  to  his  men. 

Side  by  side  the  midshipmen  raced  back 
up  the  steep  slope  of  La  Mesa.  Once  at  the 
top  they  stopped  and  waited  impatiently  for 
the  soldiers. 

"  Have  you  told  him  of  the  machine 
guns  ? "  Phil  questioned  his  companion 
breathlessly. 

Sydney  nodded  his  head  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Yes,  he  has  orders  to  go  immediately  to 


2 ;o  A  UNITED  STATES 

Tortuga  Hill  with  his  company,  but  he  wished 
to  see  the  arms  first." 

They  were  soon  in  the  house  peering  down 
into  the  dark  cellar.  The  lads  knew  that 
at  least  two  of  their  enemy  were  guarding 
the  tunnel  and  would  open  fire  at  the  first 
man  who  descended  the  rope. 

Sydney  would  have  pushed  his  companion 
aside  but  Phil  anticipated  him  and  grasping 
the  rope  firmly  he  slid  down  until  his  feet 
struck  the  earth  floor. 

A  fusillade  of  shots  came  from  the  guard 
ing  enemy  ;  he  felt  the  rush  of  air  from  a 
bullet  that  grazed  his  cheek.  He  jumped 
backward  hastily  against  the  wall  and  glanced 
anxiously  up  at  his  companions.  Sydney 
was  descending  rapidly  and  was  soon  by  his 
side.  Another  volley  came  from  down  the 
tunnel. 

"  Come  down,"  Phil  urged  the  hesitating 
soldiers  ;  "  don't  desert  us,  the  arms  are  here, 
see ! "  He  grasped  a  gun  from  under  the 
canvas  cover  and  dragged  it  out  until  the 
light  from  above  disclosed  its  character  to  the 
wavering  men  above. 

The  enemy  in  the  tunnel  opened  a  rapid 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  271 

fire  ;  the  soldiers  ready  to  descend  drew  back 
in  fear.  In  desperation  Phil  drew  his  re 
volver  and  faced  squarely  down  the  dark 
tunnel  ;  six  shots  from  his  Colt  rang  out. 

"  We  are  coming,  senor,"  the  lieutenant 
cried,  forcing  some  of  his  men  before  him 
down  the  rope  and  following  them  quickly, 
while  the  lads  silenced  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
with  their  revolvers. 

The  soldiers  once  in  the  cellar  opened  fire 
with  their  rifles  down  the  tunnel. 

"  The  guns,  now,"  cried  Phil ;  "  two  soldiers 
must  keep  up  the  fire,"  he  directed  turning  to 
the  lieutenant. 

The  canvas  cover  was  removed  and  a  great 
store  of  ordnance  material  was  revealed  to 
the  astonished  eyes  of  the  lieutenant  and  his 
men. 

They  needed  no  further  urging,  but  with 
willing  hands  carried  the  machine  guns  from 
the  end  of  the  cellar  to  the  hole  in  the  floor 
above ;  the  lads  quickly  knotted  the  rope 
about  their  steel  barrels  and  thirty  guns  were 
soon  safely  landed  on  the  floor  of  the  hall 
way  of  the  house.  Then  the  ammunition, 
box  after  box,  each  containing  six  hundred 


272  A  UNITED  STATES 

rounds,  was  brought  out  by  the  men  and 
passed  up  to  their  companions  above. 

This  task  completed,  the  lads,  ordering  the 
soldiers  up  the  rope,  fired  a  few  parting  shots 
down  the  tunnel. 

"  We  must  watch  for  the  other  man,"  Phil 
said,  turning  to  Sydney  as  they  emerged  from 
the  house.  "  We  know  now  that  he  is  the 
member  of  the  firm  of  La  Fitte  and  Company 
who  has  been  financiering  this  revolution  ; 
and  that  it  was  he  who  confided  the  supposed 
plan  of  attack  to  our  minister  ;  if  we  can  lay 
hands  on  him  the  end  of  the  rebellion  will  be 
in  sight." 

The  astonishment  on  the  soldiers'  faces  upon 
seeing  the  machine  guns  which  their  ten 
companions  had  passed  out  to  them  from  the 
house  was  almost  ludicrous,  but  our  lads 
could  give  no  thought  now  to  the  drollness 
of  the  situation.  Juarez  had  undoubtedly 
reached  the  rebel  lines  in  safety  ;  by  now 
orders  were  being  sent  from  Ruiz's  head 
quarters  to  attack  immediately  instead  of 
waiting  for  sunset.  The  government,  acting 
upon  the  information  from  the  minister, 
given  in  good  faith,  had  strengthened  Tortuga 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          273 

Hill  to  the  disadvantage  of  all  other  points 
of  the  defense.  La  Mesa  was  almost  deserted. 
Before  the  lads'  bewildered  eyes  a  mounted 
aide  rode  at  full  gallop  up  to  the  battery  on 
the  hill  above  them,  shouting  hurried  orders. 
They  saw  the  battery  limber  up  and  charge 
down  the  slope,  disappearing  along  the 
military  road  below  them. 

"  Syd,  you  must  intercept  that  horseman," 
Phil  cried  pointing  to  the  solitary  figure  but 
a  scant  five  hundred  yards  from  them.  "  He 
has  ordered  that  battery  away  ;  he  must  be 
told  the  seriousness  of  abandoning  this  hill." 

Sydney  bounded  away  in  pursuit.  The 
aide  walked  his  horse  down  the  slope,  away 
from  La  Mesa,  surveying  the  scene  about 
him.  He  stopped  and  cast  an  enquiring 
glance  at  those  on  the  hill.  Catching  sight 
of  the  approaching  midshipman  he  wheeled 
about  to  meet  him.  A  moment  later  he  had 
dismounted  at  Phil's  side  and  with  eyes  full 
of  astonishment  saw  the  machine  guns  and 
the  great  store  of  ammunition. 

Phil  explained  in  a  breath.  The  aide's 
swarthy  face  betrayed  his  fear  for  the  results 
of  the  expected  assault. 


274  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  You  say  the  rebels  will  attack  at  once," 
he  cried  after  the  lad  had  finished  his  story ; 
"  then  this  hill  is  lost.  It  will  take  an  hour 
to  get  sufficient  force  here  to  hold  it." 

"  We  can  hold  it  ourselves,  if  these  men 
will  remain,"  Phil  declared  stoutly.  "  But 
the  lieutenant  has  orders  to  leave  us." 

"  I  don't  understand,"  exclaimed  the  aide 
incredulously  ;  "  how  can  you  expect  to  hold 
this  hill  with  but  a  company  of  soldiers? 
You  have  just  said  that  General  Ruiz  will 
concentrate  his  entire  force  here  to  obtain 
these  guns.  We  must  retreat  carrying  these 
guns  with  us." 

He  opened  his  mouth  to  give  the  order,  but 
Phil  raised  his  hand  desperately  to  be  heard. 

"  That  would  be  unwise,"  he  cried  earnestly. 
"  My  companion  and  I  can  mount  these  guns. 
We  have  ammunition  here  in  abundance. 
These  thirty  guns  can  hold  La  Mesa  against 
the  rebel  army." 

The  aide's  face  was  a  study.  He  knew 
nothing  about  machine  guns ;  and  like  all 
ignorant  men  he  believed  the  Americans  were 
deceiving  him. 

Phil  thought  quickly.     If   they  retreated 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  275 

carrying  the  guns  with  them,  the  government 
forces  would  be  reenforced  by  their  addition 
but  the  rebel  army  was  a  match  for  them  even 
with  this  powerful  acquisition.  If  they  could 
mount  the  guns  and  allow  the  rebel  army  to 
assault  La  Mesa  in  ignorance  of  what  was 
awaiting  them  on  the  top,  the  rebel  forces 
would  receive  a  check  which  would  be  a 
terrible  blow  to  their  cause ;  the  murderous 
stream  of  lead  would  strike  terror  to  the 
simple  unsuspecting  hearts  of  their  soldiers. 
If  he  could  but  show  the  aide  how  important 
it  was  to  his  cause  to  retain  these  men  and 
hold  the  hill ! 

Motioning  Sydney,  Phil  bent  over  a  gun, 
raising  it  quickly  to  its  tripod ;  adjusted  the 
firing  mechanism  deftly  and  wiped  off  the 
heavy  coating  of  preservative  grease  from  its 
intricate  working  parts.  Sydney  was  busy  at 
a  second  gun.  Phil  stripped  the  cover  from 
a  box  of  ammunition.  His  heart  beat  joy 
fully.  It  was  already  loaded  in  the  belts 
ready  to  be  run  through  the  automatic 
mechanism  of  the  Colt  gun's  breech.  He 
held  up  a  long  string  of  cartridges  closely  laid 
within  the  "  feed-tape."  He  took  the  end 


276  A  UNITED  STATES 

and  with  skilful  fingers  fed  the  first  cartridge 
to  the  steel  maw  of  the  gun ;  a  string  of 
others  trailed  away  along  the  tape  to  the  box 
beneath  the  breech  of  the  gun. 

"  This  gun  is  ready  for  action,"  he  cried, 
turning  anxiously  to  the  surprised  and  de 
lighted  aide.  "  This  is  worth  a  whole  com 
pany  of  soldiers  and  there  are  thirty  more 
waiting  to  be  made  ready." 

"  Stay  with  these  guns,"  the  aide  ordered 
as  he  precipitously  dashed  away.  "  I  shall 
send  reinforcements." 

The  lads  worked  with  trembling  fingers. 
Their  anxiety  nearly  stifled  them.  The  at 
tack  might  begin  at  any  moment.  They 
knew  that  their  soldier  allies  could  not  be 
depended  upon  if  the  attack  began  before  the 
guns  were  ready. 

They  had  just  raised  the  last  gun  to  its 
tripod  when  the  silence  was  disturbed  by  a 
sullen  boom  of  warning  from  Tortuga  Hill  : 
the  rebels  were  advancing. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE    ASSAULT 

BATTERY  after  battery  within  the  govern 
ment  lines  opened  fire.  The  Americans  could 
trace  the  points  of  defense  by  the  red  tongues 
of  flame  and  the  smoke  from  the  heavy  guns. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  spread  along  the  line 
like  a  prairie  fire,  but  its  volume  was  greatest 
at  Tortuga  Hill.  In  a  fever  of  excitement 
they  saw  the  rebel  columns  advance  from 
their  protecting  trenches  ;  their  heavy  guns 
now  took  part  in  the  battle  and  sent  their 
shells  over  the  heads  of  the  advancing  men 
against  the  waiting  government  soldiers. 

"  Divide  your  men,"  Phil  ordered  the 
lieutenant ;  "  four  for  each  gun." 

They  saw  the  machine  guns  placed  in  posi 
tions  of  vantage  covering  all  directions  from 
which  the  attack  must  come. 

"  Keep  your  fingers  pressed  on  the  triggers 
and  the  guns  pointed  at  the  enemy,"  Phil  in 
structed  the  anxious  soldiers ;  "  play  the 

277 


278  A  UNITED  STATES 

stream  of  bullets  as  if  it  were  a  hose,  but  for 
your  lives  don't  shoot  until  I  give  the  order." 

The  soldiers  gazed  in  enchanted  wonder  at 
the  guns.  They  had  never  seen  their  like  be 
fore.  They  imagined  they  were  something 
almost  supernatural.  Had  not  the  Americans 
said  one  gun  was  equal  to  a  company  of 
soldiers  ? 

"  Look,  Syd,"  cried  Phil  in  admiration, 
pointing  toward  Tortuga  Hill ;  the  entire  hill 
side  seemed  alive  with  flashes  of  fire  from 
countless  guns,  but  Phil's  finger  pointed  at  a 
horseman  riding  full  gallop  up  the  slope,  shells 
bursting  all  about  his  mount.  "  There  is  the 
aide,  but  before  reinforcements  can  reach  us 
the  fight  will  be  over.  If  the  guns  don't  jam 
we  can  hold  the  hill." 

"  My  fear  is  that  our  men  will  not  stand 
the  preliminary  shelling,"  returned  Sydney  ; 
"  all  their  guns  are  directed  at  Tortuga  Hill 
now,  but  when  they  have  made  their  feint, 
look  out  up  here.  We'll  have  every  gun 
against  us." 

"  Our  intrenchments  are  safe  enough  if  the 
men  keep  down  in  them,"  Phil  encouraged, 
as  they  finished  mounting  the  last  gun  and 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          279 

instructed  its  squad  how  to  manipulate  it, 
"  but  if  a  panic  takes  them,  they  will  not  listen 
to  us.  I  wish  we  had  O'Neil ;  his  influence 
with  these  natives  is  next  to  marvelous." 

Everything  was  now  ready ;  the  soldiers 
had  all  been  instructed  how  to  fire  and  reload 
a  second  tape  of  six  hundred  fresh  cartridges. 
All  would  go  well  if  the  soldiers'  courage 
could  be  depended  upon  to  withstand  the 
searching  fire  of  artillery  which  the  lads 
knew  must  soon  commence. 

The  midshipmen  viewed  the  appalling  spec 
tacle  with  nervous  eyes.  Regiment  after  regi 
ment  advanced  from  the  cover  of  the  trenches 
in  extended  order  and  pressed  forward  silently, 
the  artillery  behind  them  and  on  their  flanks 
sending  its  heavily  charged  shells  screeching 
over  their  heads  to  fall  within  the  govern 
ment  lines. 

"  They  are  surely  concentrating  on  Tortuga 
Hill,"  Sydney  exclaimed,  hardly  able  to  be 
lieve  his  eyes,  as  he  saw  masses  of  khaki  clad 
men  emerge  from  the  dense  foliage  of  the  level 
country  and  sweep  upward  toward  that  almost 
impregnable  position. 

"  They  surely  do  not  intend  to  assault  that 


28o  A  UNITED  STATES 

hill,"  Phil  exclaimed  ;  "  their  loss  would  be 
tremendous."  Then  he  rubbed  his  eyes,  be 
lieving  that  he  must  have  been  dreaming. 
The  first  line  of  assault  had  vanished  into  the 
earth.  "  Why,  where  did  the  first  line  go?" 
he  shouted  excitedly,  peering  down  at  the  re 
maining  columns  as  they  swept  silently  for 
ward.  In  but  a  minute  the  last  enemy  had 
disappeared  from  sight  on  the  level  plain.  It 
seemed  like  magic.  The  soldiers  whispered 
nervously  to  each  other. 

"  What  can  it  mean  ?  "  Sydney  gasped  as 
they  gazed  in  wonder  at  this  remarkable  illu 
sion.  "  Look  out,"  he  cried,  as  a  shrapnel 
shell  exploded  over  their  heads,  sending  show 
ers  of  bullets  all  about  them. 

The  artillery  fire  of  the  enemy  redoubled, 
and  now  every  gun  in  the  rebel  army  was  con 
centrating  on  La  Mesa ;  bursting  shell  and 
shrapnel  were  falling  on  every  hand,  and  the 
few  defenders  of  the  hill  were  in  momentary 
danger  from  their  well  aimed  shooting. 

"  Keep  down  in  the  trenches,"  the  lads 
warned  the  excited  soldiers.  A  number  had 
already  ventured  out  to  satisfy  their  curiosity 
and  were  stretched  in  their  death  agony  be- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          281 

hind  the  trench.  The  midshipmen  paced  up 
and  down  between  their  guns,  apparently  un 
conscious  of  the  death  dealing  missiles  about 
them.  Their  one  fear  was  that  the  men  would 
break  and  run  before  this  terrible  bombard 
ment  was  over. 

Phil  braved  the  storm  of  iron  above  his  head 
and  took  a  comprehensive  look  at  the  pano 
rama  before  him.  Something  unusual  was 
happening  on  Tortuga  Hill ;  its  fire  lessened, 
and  down  the  slope  away  from  the  enemy  men 
streamed  in  countless  numbers.  Officers  could 
be  seen  brandishing  their  swords  and  gesticu 
lating  wildly.  Was  it  a  retreat  ?  Phil's  heart 
rose  in  his  throat.  A  battery  of  field  guns 
galloped  wildly  away  down  the  hill ;  it  reached 
the  level  country ;  the  enemy  saw  its  inten 
tion  and  opened  upon  it  a  scathing  fire.  Yet 
on  it  came  heading  directly  for  La  Mesa. 

The  midshipmen  cried  out  for  joy  and 
pointed  out  the  nearing  aid  to  their  terrorized 
men. 

"  Steady  your  men,"  Phil  urged  the  lieu 
tenant  ;  "  reinforcements  are  coming." 

A  cry  from  Sydney  at  his  side  made  his 
hopes  sink. 


282  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  There  they  come,"  he  gasped.  "  We  can 
never  stop  them." 

As  Phil  took  in  the  situation  his  blood 
seemed  to  freeze  in  his  veins.  From  the  woods 
in  front  of  La  Mesa  a  swarm  of  men  broke 
cover  and  pressed  forward  on  a  run.  While 
as  if  from  the  ground,  midway  between  them 
and  La  Mesa,  a  seething  fire  of  musketry  swept 
over  the  handful  of  defenders. 

"  We  have  the  whole  rebel  army  against  us 
now,"  he  whispered  to  Sydney,  fearing  his 
men  might  hear  this  terrifying  intelligence. 
"  It  was  a  trench.  They  moved  in  it  by  the 
flank  and  are  now  in  front  of  us.  They  must 
have  known  this  on  Tortuga  Hill  when  we 
saw  them  hurry  our  reinforcements  to  us.  If 
we  can  hold  our  men  fifteen  minutes  longer 
we'll  win." 

The  lad  was  right.  The  insurgents  had,  un 
observed  by  the  defending  army,  dug  a  deep 
trench  during  the  night,  half-way  between  the 
two  lines.  The  greater  part  of  the  assaulting 
army  had  advanced  on  Tortuga  Hill  until  they 
had  reached  the  shelter  of  this  ditch,  and  then 
had,  protected  from  their  enemy's  fire,  moved 
by  the  flank  until  they  were  directly  in  front 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          283 

of  and  but  five  hundred  yards  from  the  top 
of  La  Mesa.  A  withering  fire  came  from  the 
concealed  men  ;  bullets  like  hail  sang  about 
the  Americans  and  their  well-nigh  demoralized 
men.  The  government  batteries  were  direct 
ing  a  hot  fire  on  the  approaching  masses  ;  yet 
on  they  came  determinedly.  Phil  knew  that 
when  the  second  column  reached  the  trench 
thousands  of  soldiers  would  storm  up  the  few 
hundred  yards  between  them  and  their  cov 
eted  prize,  La  Mesa.  Would  the  machine  guns 
have  power  to  stem  this  irresistible  host  ? 

"  How  near  will  you  let  them  come?  "  ques 
tioned  Sydney  eagerly. 

Phil  estimated  the  distance. 

"  If  we  fire  as  they  leave  the  trench, 
they  might  return  to  it  and  continue  their 
artillery  to  shell  us  out,"  he  answered  quickly. 
"  It  would  be  wiser  to  let  them  gain  half  the 
distance  before  we  let  them  know  they  have 
the  guns  against  them.  They  must  see  the 
reinforcements  coming  to  us  from  Tortuga 
Hill,  but  they  now  believe  the  hill  will  be 
theirs  without  a  struggle  before  they  can  get 
here." 

The  two  midshipmen  were  at  the  highest 


284  A  UNITED  STATES 

pitch  of  excitement.  They  realized  that  the 
fortunes  of  the  government  of  Verazala 
depended  upon  this  assault.  The  insurgents' 
brilliant  strategy  won  their  admiration. 
With  these  Colt  guns  in  their  hands  the 
city  would  be  theirs  inside  of  twenty-four 
hours.  They  knew  that  in  these  countries 
a  victory  often  means  a  complete  rout  for 
the  vanquished.  Whole  regiments  have  been 
known  to  turn  about,  if  the  battle  is  seen 
to  be  going  against  their  side,  and  fight 
with  the  enemy  against  their  former  com 
rades. 

The  batteries  within  range  of  the  assault 
ing  columns  opened  a  furious  cannonade  as 
they  saw  the  great  surge  of  humanity  leave 
the  newly  made  trench  and  charge  boldly 
up  the  slopes  of  La  Mesa.  Tortuga  Hill 
batteries  opened  a  rapid  fire,  but  the  dis 
tance  was  too  great,  their  shells  were  open 
ing  deep  holes  in  the  earth,  but  many  yards 
short  of  the  attacking  enemy. 

The  lads  saw  with  anxiety  that  their  men 
were  fighting  desperately  against  the  terror 
which  told  them  to  flee  ;  the  awful,  terrify 
ing  horde  of  armed  enemy  were  rushing 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  285 

upon  them  with  unnerving  speed ;  they 
knew  the  custom  of  their  countrymen  :  they 
gave  "  no  quarter  "  ;  death  approached  them 
on  three  sides. 

The  midshipmen  pleaded  with  the  men 
to  be  calm ;  they  even  threatened  them  ;  but 
their  courage  was  fast  slipping  away.  The 
terrible  sight  of  the  thousands  of  their  yell 
ing  merciless  enemies  was  too  much  for  their 
shaken  nerves. 

Then  another  sight  brought  a  new  fear  to 
the  hearts  of  the  despairing  boys  ;  the  men 
on  the  hill  above  them  had  abandoned  their 
guns  and  were  retreating.  Down  the  spur 
of  the  hill  they  came.  Their  path  led  over 
part  of  the  trench  in  which  the  midshipmen 
stood.  The  lads  knew  that  this  flood  of  fear 
would  sweep  their  own  men  along  with  it  as 
so  much  flotsam. 

The  time  had  arrived.  Once  the  sound  of 
the  magic  guns  had  been  heard  the  engulfing 
tide  might  be  turned. 

"  Open  fire,"  Phil  shouted,  his  voice  hoarse 
with  emotion. 

The  furious  barking  of  the  guns,  sending 
their  leaden  streams  into  the  advancing 


286  A  UNITED  STATES 

ranks  brought  back  the  waning  courage  of 
the  defending  company. 

The  assaulting  columns  hesitated  in  their 
mad  rush  for  the  hill.  They  saw  their  com 
rades  mowed  down  by  the  score.  Where  was 
the  easy  victory  their  officers  had  told  them 
would  be  theirs  ?  A  horrible  fear  of  treachery 
came  into  their  simple  minds  ;  they  stopped. 
No  power  could  urge  them  a  step  further  ;  in 
another  second  they  had  broken  and  fled  in 
an  ungovernable  panic  back  to  their  trenches 
for  safety. 

The  men  on  La  Mesa  were  wild  with  de 
light.  The  lust  of  blood  had  entered  their 
souls.  They  became  foolishly  brave  and 
leaped  upon  the  top  of  their  protecting 
trench,  screaming  malediction  and  defiance 
at  their  routed  enemy. 

"  Get  down,"  the  lads  cried,  grasping  those 
near  them  and  dragging  them  forcibly  to 
shelter ;  but  some  had  already  paid  the 
penalty  of  their  childlike,  reckless  bravado. 
The  enemy,  once  again  secure  in  its  trenches, 
had  opened  a  heavy  fire  on  La  Mesa. 

Phil  knew  that  the  insurgents  would  attack 
again.  Ruiz  would  not  be  satisfied,  even  if 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  287 

he  sacrificed  every  man,  until  the  hill  was 
taken. 

"  Keep  cool,"  the  lads  urged  the  excited 
soldiers,  moving  among  them  and  seeing 
that  the  guns  were  reloaded  with  a  full  sup 
ply  of  ammunition.  "  If  you  can  hold 
them  once  more  our  reinforcements  will  be 
here." 

The  rebels  knew  their  time  was  short  if 
they  would  take  the  hill ;  they  saw  the 
government  reserves  rapidly  approaching  to 
succor  their  comrades  on  La  Mesa. 

Phil  felt  a  touch  on  his  shoulder,  and  turn 
ing  hastily,  he  looked  into  the  revengeful 
face  of  Lazar. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  fighting  here, 
wearing  the  uniform  of  the  United  States 
navy  ?  "  Lazar  began  peremptorily.  "  Come 
with  me  to  the  legation  immediately,  I  com 
mand  you  ! 

"Do  you  hear?"  he  continued  in  a  voice 
choking  with  wrath,  as  the  lad  showed  no 
signs  of  obedience.  "  I  order  you  to  leave 
here  and  follow  me.  Both  of  you,"  he  added, 
pointing  toward  the  oblivious  Sydney,  who 
was  out  of  ear-shot  at  the  far  corner  of  the 


288  A  UNITED  STATES 

intrenchment,  gazing  in  awe  at  the  battle 
field  in  front  of  them. 

Phil  sought  the  reason  why  Lazar  was 
there.  It  came  to  him  suddenly  ;  he  saw  it 
all ;  it  was  not  an  accidental  meeting  ;  his 
stained  uniform  showed  he  had  ridden  hard 
to  reach  La  Mesa.  Juarez  must  have  sent  the 
chauffeur  to  the  legation  with  the  news  that 
he  and  Sydney  were  on  La  Mesa,  and  Lazar 
had  arrived  in  the  nick  of  time.  If  he 
obeyed  Lazar's  order  and  deserted  the  soldiers 
while  the  enemy  were  about  to  make  a  des 
perate  assault,  he  knew  that  they  would 
break  before  the  rebels  got  half-way  to  the 
top,  and  the  Colt  guns  would  be  lost.  They 
would  see  a  new  and  terrible  peril  in  being 
deserted  by  the  Americans.  He  could  not 
explain  to  them  why  he  must  leave  them. 
He  saw  in  their  eyes  already  an  awakening 
dread.  The  next  assault  would  be  desperate. 
It  had  been  the  surprise  at  the  defense  of  La 
Mesa  that  had  sent  the  enemy  back  to  their 
trenches  in  a  panic.  Now  they  knew  with 
what  they  had  to  deal,  and  the  knowledge  that 
but  a  handful  of  men  held  the  hill  would 
spur  them  on  to  redoubled  energy. 


YOU  REFUSE?"  HE  CRIED, 
HOARSELY 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          289 

"  Mr.  Perry,  do  you  realize  that  you  are 
deliberately  disobeying  my  orders  ? "  cried 
Lazar  in  exasperation.  "  I  am  your  superior 
officer,  in  command  of  our  forces  on  shore, 
and  I  again  order  you  both  to  come  with 
me." 

"  Mr.  Lazar,  can't  you  see  the  consequences 
of  deserting  these  men?"  Phil  questioned, 
struggling  to  keep  calm. 

"  I  have  no  concern  for  them,"  answered 
Lazar  hotly.  "  You  are  wearing  the  United 
States  uniform  and  you  are  acting  unad 
visedly.  I  order  you  to  leave  this  hill  at 
once  !  "  He  was  white  with  anger  as  he  read 
in  Phil's  face  determination  to  disobey. 

"  Do  you  refuse  ?  "  he  cried  hoarsely,  his 
hand  moving  almost  unconsciously  to  his 
revolver  holster. 

Excited  cries  from  the  soldiers  made  Phil 
turn  an  anxious  glance  toward  the  enemy. 
They  were  sweeping  out  of  their  trenches  and 
charging  again  up  the  hill.  To  leave  now 
could  mean  but  failure  to  the  government 
arms. 

"  I  am  sorry,  sir,  I  must  disobey  your 
order,"  he  said  determinedly. 


290  A  UNITED  STATES 

Lazar's  revolver  was  now  out  of  its  holster. 
His  eyes  blazed  with  anger  and  mortification. 

"  You  defy  me,"  he  roared,  advancing 
menacingly,  holding  his  revolver  in  his 
clenched  hand. 

Phil  was  so  amazed  that  he  could  not  find 
voice  to  answer.  Then  his  indignation  at 
the  threatening  attitude  of  his  senior  swept 
caution  aside. 

"  I  refuse  to  obey  you,"  he  cried  angrily. 
"  I  shall  not  leave  until  the  rebels  are  re 
pulsed." 

His  body  trembling  with  passion,  Phil 
turned  from  the  ensign  toward  the  soldiers 
standing  uncertainly  watching  the  enemy's 
approach. 

"  Hold  on,  sir,  begging  your  pardon,  sir,  but 
that  won't  do,"  a  familiar  voice  cried  out 
behind  him.  Phil  glanced  about  quickly. 
There  was  O'Neil,  big  and  strong ;  he  had 
seized  Lazar's  arm  as  he  spoke  and  was  forc 
ing  his  revolver  back  into  its  holster. 

Lazar's  face  was  deadly  white ;  he  con 
trolled  himself  with  difficulty.  The  soldiers 
regarded  the  Americans  anxiously,  doubt 
lessly  realizing  that  their  own  safety  de- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  291 

pended  upon  the  outcome  of  this  clash  of 
authority. 

Lazar  gave  Phil  a  look  full  of  hatred,  then 
turned  away  and  disappeared  by  the  way  he 
had  come. 

The  lieutenant  had  heard  enough  to  fear 
that  the  Americans  might  leave  them.  He 
turned  to  Phil  and  begged  him  to  remain. 
The  lad  assured  him  that  they  would  stand  by 
the  guns. 

The  soldiers  were  experiencing  the  same 
sensations  that  they  had  felt  when  their  enemy 
had  commenced  the  first  attack.  Soldiers  of 
this  stamp  never  become  veterans. 

O'Neil  steadied  them  in  his  cheery  voice. 

"What  are  you  scared  about?"  he  cried 
loudly.  "  All  you  got  to  do  is  to  put  your  black 
fingers  on  the  triggers ;  the  guns  will  do  the 
rest.  If  you  fire  when  you  get  the  order  the 
rebels  will  not  stop  running  until  they  strike 
the  next  republic." 

"  Commence  firing,"  Phil  ordered.  The 
Colt  guns  spit  flame,  sending  countless  mes 
sengers  of  death  into  the  rebel  ranks. 

On  came  the  rebel  hosts.  Their  ranks 
broke  sorely,  but  with  determination  born  of 


292  A  UNITED  STATES 

despair  they  closed  in  the  gaps  and  charged 
onward. 

The  enemy's  artillery  fire  opened  with  re 
doubled  energy.  Shell  and  shrapnel  burst 
with  telling  effect  about  the  handful  of  men. 
The  trenches  could  not  protect  them.  One 
after  another,  the  gun's  crews  were  depleted 
by  bursting  shrapnel.  Yet  the  little  guns 
spitefully  ground  out  bullets  from  their  heated 
muzzles  into  the  unprotected  mass  of  hu 
manity  now  but  a  short  distance  from  their 
goal. 

The  ominous  sounds  of  jammed  and  over 
heated  guns  sent  a  thrill  of  dread  through 
the  hearts  of  the  Americans.  What  they 
feared  would  happen  was  now  taking  place  : 
the  guns  were  thickly  coated  with  a  grease  to 
preserve  them  in  transit ;  there  had  been  time 
to  remove  but  a  small  part  of  it  before  the 
guns  were  fired  ;  now  this  grease  had  become 
mixed  with  the  residue  of  burnt  powder  and 
had  formed  a  thick  paste  which  clung  to  the 
delicately  fitting  parts  of  the  mechanism,  thus 
causing  the  guns  to  jam.  Absolutely  power 
less  to  remedy  this  fatal  defect,  the  lads  stood, 
fear  clutching  at  their  hearts,  hearing  one  gun 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  293 

after  another  cease  its  fire.  But  a  handful  of 
guns  remained  in  action.  The  horrified 
soldiers  were  deserting,  running  away  from 
the  avalanche  sweeping  upon  them. 

A  few  of  the  guns  were  still  pumping  a 
leaden  stream  into  the  ranks  of  the  rebels, 
now  but  a  hundred  feet  away,  firing  their 
rifles  as  they  came  to  keep  up  their  fleeting 
courage. 

The  Colt  guns  were  stilled,  the  last  soldier 
had  deserted ;  the  Americans  were  alone  in 
the  trench  except  for  the  dead  and  those  too 
badly  wounded  to  escape  from  the  terrifying 
sound  of  the  advancing  army. 

The  silence  of  their  enemy  behind  the  in- 
trenchments  on  La  Mesa  sent  a  thrill  of  terror 
through  the  advancing  hundreds.  Their  dead 
and  dying  behind  them  told  them  only  too 
plainly  the  power  of  these  concealed  guns. 
They  imagined  the  silence  was  but  a  trick  to 
draw  them  nearer,  then  hurl  on  them  a 
stream  of  bullets  that  would  mow  them  down 
like  chaff  before  the  reaper.  Fifty  yards 
from  the  top  of  the  hill  they  stood  still,  their 
contorted  faces  white  with  a  terrible  fear. 
Phil  saw  Juarez  rush  ahead  of  his  demoralized 


294  A  UNITED  STATES 

men,  urging  them  to  advance.  The  glad 
rattle  of  a  Colt  gun  rang  in  the  lad's  ears. 
He  saw  O'Neil  beside  it ;  he  had  wiped  out 
the  hard  obstructing  substance.  The  gun 
again  played  its  death  dealing  stream  on  the 
doubting  enemy.  The  rebels,  impelled  from 
behind,  advanced  slowly.  Phil  saw  Juarez 
sink  to  the  ground ;  the  tide  of  soldiers 
streamed  over  his  lifeless  body ;  again  they 
wavered,  then  came  on  more  determinedly 
than  ever.  O'Neil's  gun  jammed  again  with 
an  ominous  click.  The  enemy  were  now  only 
a  stone's  throw  away  from  the  trench  ;  a  few 
seconds  more  and  they  would  be  pouring  over 
its  top  and  butchering  those  who  dared  re 
main.  Phil  grasped  his  revolver,  and  leaned 
against  the  wall  of  earth  behind  him. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE    ACCUSATION 

"  DOWN  for  your  lives,"  cried  O'Neil,  grasp 
ing  the  benumbed  lads,  and  dragging  them  to 
the  bottom  of  the  trench. 

A  heavy  fusillade  of  musketry  from  behind 
them,  a  stamping  of  many  feet  in  their  rear, 
then  a  swarm  of  humanity  had  pressed  in  close 
to  the  almost  empty  trench  and  were  empty 
ing  the  contents  of  their  rifles  at  the  surprised 
enemy  but  a  rod  away. 

The  lads  were  filled  with  joy ;  the  reserves 
had  arrived.  Phil  peered  out  between  the 
loyal  rifles  around  him  at  the  startled,  disap 
pointed  enemy  ;  they  had  been  sure  of  victory 
until  this  second  and  now,  their  ranks  depleted 
by  hundreds  left  on  the  naked  field  behind 
them,  they  had  still  opposed  to  them  a  formi 
dable  force  of  loyal  soldiers,  whose  number  they 
did  not  know.  Their  confidence  had  flown  ; 
this  terrible  hill  had  been  a  death  trap,  while 

295 


296  A  UNITED  STATES 

they  had  been  assured  of  an  easy  and  bloodless 
victory.  For  an  instant  they  hesitated  ;  then 
they  turned  and  retreated,  a  scathing  fire 
from  the  coveted  trenches  impelling  them  on 
ward  in  their  flight  for  safety. 

The  excitement  among  the  government 
troops  was  intense.  The  three  Americans  were 
cheered  to  the  echo  by  the  wildly  joyful 
soldiers. 

A  group  of  horsemen  galloped  up  the  hill ; 
they  approached  the  trenches  amid  welcoming 
cries  from  the  men. 

"  Come,  Syd,  we  can  do  no  more  here,"  Phil 
cried  breathlessly.  "  Let's  get  away  quickly." 

With  O'Neil,  they  pressed  their  way  through 
the  jubilant  natives,  but  had  gone  but  a  short 
distance  when  they  were  stopped  by  a  horse 
man  ;  he  reined  in  his  foaming  steed,  swung 
himself  from  his  saddle  and  placed  himself 
smilingly  before  them. 

"  Our  president  desires  to  meet  our  Ameri 
can  allies,"  he  cried  proudly. 

Phil's  countenance  fell.  He  had  been  hop 
ing  to  avoid  this  meeting,  yet  he  could  not 
refuse ;  to  do  so  would  have  the  appearance  of 
a  slight  to  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  country. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  297 

He  acknowledged  the  honor  paid  them  with 
appropriate  words,  and  then  they  followed  the 
officer  back  toward  the  group  of  horsemen  now 
halted  in  the  rear  of  the  trenches  which  the 
boys  had  just  left. 

"  My  good  friends,"  a  familiar  voice  hailed 
in  Spanish,  and  the  next  minute  the  lads  were 
embraced  by  their  warm  friend,  Captain  Garcia. 

"  General  Barras,"  the  latter  cried,  dragging 
the  bashful  Americans  forward,  "  to  these 
three  American  officers  we  owe  our  success  at 
Rio  Grande." 

The  general's  face  was  wreathed  in  smiles. 
He  was  joyful  at  snatching  victory  from  what 
had  seemed  to  him  but  a  few  minutes  be 
fore  utter  defeat.  He  grasped  the  hands  of 
both  lads  and  in  his  native  tongue  expressed 
his  heartfelt  obligations. 

"  Sefiors,"  he  said,  "  you  have  accomplished 
that  which  I  was  powerless  to  do.  These 
machine  guns  I  knew  were  leaving  your 
country  for  my  enemy,  but  I  was  powerless  to 
find  out  the  means  by  which  they  were  to  be 
landed  ;  your  marvelous  work  here  to-day  has 
saved  my  government  from  being  overthrown 
and  the  lawless  rebels  raised  to  power.  Your 


298  A  UNITED  STATES 

defense  of  this  hill  with  but  a  company  of  raw 
soldiers  has  won  our  highest  praise." 

Captain  Garcia's  face  wore  a  puzzled  look. 
He  knew  nothing  of  the  defense  of  La  Mesa. 

"  General  Barras,"  he  exclaimed,  "  these 
gentlemen  have  shown  themselves  our  staunch 
friends  ;  they  have  risked  their  lives  many 
times  for  our  cause.  I  have  told  you  but  an 
unimportant  part  of  their  work  for  me  on  board 
the  '  Aquadores,'  and  now  they  have  saved  the 
day  for  us  here.  Cannot  we  suitably  reward 
them  for  their  heroic  services  ?  " 

"  General  Barras,"  Phil  finally  managed  to 
explain  to  the  president  of  the  republic,  who 
had  been  directing  the  defense  in  person,  "  for 
my  companions  and  myself,  I  thank  you  for 
the  high  compliments  you  and  Captain  Garcia 
are  paying  us,  but  we  dare  not  allow  the 
knowledge  of  our  work  to  become  common 
property.  I  crave  your  pardon  if  we  appear 
ungrateful,  but  we  ask  that  our  services  here 
and  at  Rio  Grande  be  kept  as  secret  as  is  pos 
sible."  He  stopped,  seeing  the  disappointment 
and  surprise  on  the  president's  face  ;  then  he 
continued  hurriedly  :  "  These  machine  guns 
arrived  in  La  Boca  in  such  a  manner  that  we 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          299 

felt  ourselves  in  honor  bound  to  see  that  they 
did  no  harm  to  your  government ;  the  small 
service  we  have  been  able  to  do  for  you  has 
been  made  possible  through  our  determina 
tion  to  prevent  the  guns  from  falling  into 
the  hands  of  your  enemy.  We  have  acted 
upon  the  dictates  of  our  consciences,  but  we 
are  in  the  naval  service  of  the  United  States 
and  our  motives,  if  the  circumstances  were 
known,  might  be  easily  misconstrued  to  our 
ruin." 

The  president,  though  disappointed  at  not 
being  allowed  to  show  his  official  appreciation 
for  their  invaluable  services,  readily  promised 
secrecy,  and  after  bidding  them  farewell  they 
were  allowed  to  continue  on  their  way. 

"  Those  are  the  two  finest  dagos  I  have  ever 
seen,"  exclaimed  O'Neil,  after  they  had  gotten 
out  of  ear-shot. 

The  excitement  of  the  last  half  hour  had 
been  so  intense  that  the  lads  had  quite  forgot 
ten  to  ask  of  O'Neil  his  experiences  in  the 
house  of  Juarez. 

"How  did  you  get  into  the  house ?"  Phil 
questioned  the  sailor,  while  they  walked  rap 
idly  toward  the  city. 


300  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  boatswain's  mate  told  his  experiences, 
quite  ashamed  of  his  conduct. 

"  I  certainly  acted  like  a  landlubber,"  he 
complained  mournfully.  "  I  walked  right 
into  the  spider's  web  with  both  eyes  wide  open, 
but  seeing  nothing.  Think  of  my  deserting 
you  and  letting  you  do  all  this  work  alone." 

Then  it  was  O'Neil's  turn  to  ask  questions, 
and  the  lads  told  him  of  their  nerve-racking 
ordeal  in  the  tunnel  and  of  their  difficulty  in 
getting  the  soldiers  to  help  them. 

"  I  was  on  the  right  track  then,  after  all," 
cried  O'Neil.  "  It  was  Juarez's  house,  and  he 
was  at  home.  It  wasn't  a  very  hospitable  re 
ception  he  gave  me,"  he  added,  putting  his  hand 
to  his  swollen  head.  "  I  fired  at  one  of  them  in 
the  darkness  and  that's  the  last  I  remember 
until  the  little  dago  doctor  tried  to  make  me 
swallow  some  ill-tasting  medicine.  Then  I 
broke  away  from  him  and  ran  up  the  hill  just 
in  time  to  see  Mr.  Lazar  point  his  gun  at  you  ; 
his  face  was  not  encouraging,  so  I  thought  the 
gun  was  safer  in  its  holster." 

"  He  wouldn't  have  dared  shoot  you,  Phil," 
Sydney  exclaimed,  "would  he?" 

"  He  might  have,"  answered  the  lad  thought- 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          301 

fully  ;  "he  saw  that  we  must  defeat  his  plans 
if  we  remained,  and  in  the  excitement  after 
the  assault  had  commenced,  it  could  not  have 
been  laid  at  his  door." 

The  Americans  were  now  in  the  city.  They 
walked  rapidly  through  the  crowded  streets ; 
excited  groups  of  natives  had  gathered  and 
were  discussing  in  loud  tones  the  battle  which 
they  had  just  witnessed  from  afar.  They  had 
seen  the  assault  and  had  expected  to  see  their 
homes  given  over  to  pillage. 

"  Where  are  we  going?"  asked  Sydney,  as 
they  pressed  their  way  through  the  joyful  na 
tives. 

"  To  the  legation,"  Phil  explained.  "  I  am 
going  to  put  the  minister  on  his  guard  against 
the  villain  who  gave  him  the  information 
which  nearly  lost  the  day  for  the  government. 
Once  the  president  of  the  republic,  General 
Barras,  hears  of  his  treachery,  his  firm  will 
cease  to  do  business  in  La  Boca." 

"  The  firm  can  be  no  other  than  La  Fitte 
and  Company,"  declared  Sydney,  "  the  one 
that  is  striving  to  get  the  concessions  away 
from  the  American  syndicate ;  but  this  man 
surely  cannot  hope  to  succeed  now  ;  the  rebels 


302  A  UNITED  STATES 

have  lost.  With  the  Colt  guns,  properly  han 
dled,  in  addition  to  artillery  and  infantry,  the 
city  will  now  be  impregnable." 

"  Quite  true,"  agreed  Phil,  "  but  it  is  better 
to  render  this  man  harmless ;  he  doubtless 
stands  high  in  the  confidence  of  General 
Barras.  You  heard  the  minister  say  that  he 
did  not  wish  his  name  connected  with  the  in 
formation  ;  that  was  of  course  an  act  of  cau 
tion  in  case  the  rebels  failed  ;  but  now  I  feel 
sure  the  minister  will  divulge  his  name." 

Reaching  the  legation  they  met  Marshall, 
in  charge  in  Lazar's  absence  ;  his  men  ready 
under  arms  in  case  of  need. 

He  greeted  them  in  astonishment.  The 
midshipmen  for  the  first  time  appreciated 
what  a  sorry  sight  they  presented  ;  their  white 
uniforms  stained  with  mud  and  sprinkled 
with  blood  ;  while  O'Neil's  burly  figure  was 
incased  in  a  suit  of  khaki  many  sizes  too 
small. 

"  Who  won  ?  "  Marshall  questioned  anx 
iously.  "  We  have  been  hearing  the  firing 
for  the  last  two  hours.  The  bullets  have 
been  whistling  over  us  by  the  hundreds." 

"  It's  all  over,"  Phil  answered.     "  General 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          303 

Ruiz  was  repulsed  and  General  Barras  holds 
his  lines  strongly." 

Marshall  and  his  men  were  not  at  all 
pleased  to  hear  the  news.  They  had  antic 
ipated  interesting  work  if  the  city  were 
taken  by  the  rebels  and  their  longing  for 
adventure  had  received  a  keen  disappoint 
ment. 

"  All  this  work  for  nothing,"  Marshal  cried 
dejectedly.  "  We  have  been  kept  here  ready 
for  over  two  weeks,  expecting  any  moment 
to  have  exciting  times,  and  now  there  isn't 
going  to  be  anything." 

"  Where's  the  minister  ?  "  questioned  Phil 
intent  on  his  mission. 

"  Inside,  in  his  office,"  answered  Marshall, 
leading  the  way  into  the  legation. 

The  diplomat  received  them  immediately, 
his  manner  anxious  and  excited. 

"  We  can  see  nothing  from  this  house,"  he 
exclaimed,  as  the  midshipmen  entered  the 
office,  "  and  I  have  as  yet  heard  no  news 
of  the  battle.  Mr.  Lazar  went  out  to  the 
lines  to  observe,  but  as  yet  has  not  returned, 
and  the  firing  has  been  stopped  now  for  over 
a  half  hour."  Then  his  restless  eyes  were  at- 


304  A  UNITED  STATES 

tracted  to  the  disheveled  uniform  of  the 
lads  before  him.  "  You  have  been  in  the 
battle  ?  "  he  questioned  eagerly.  "  Tell  me 
quickly,  must  I  send  to  the  admiral  to  land  his 
men  ?  Are  the  rebels  advancing  into  the  city  ?  " 

"  We  witnessed  the  fight,"  Phil  answered 
promptly ;  "  your  fears  are  groundless,  sir. 
General  Barras  has  repulsed  the  enemy  at 
every  point ; "  he  stopped  and  looked  at  the 
minister,  a  mischievous  smile  on  his  face ; 
"the  main  attack  was  on  La  Mesa." 

The  minister  gasped. 

"And  on  Tortuga  Hill,  what  of  that?"  he 
exclaimed  in  alarm. 

"  The  attack  there  was  a  well  devised  feint 
that  came  near  defeating  the  government," 
Phil  explained,  and  then  he  tersely  described 
the  battle,  but  said  nothing  of  the  part  they 
had  taken. 

"  Then  I  might  have  brought  defeat  on 
the  government  arms  in  giving  the  infor 
mation  I  had  received  from  Senor  Mareno," 
he  cried  aghast.  "  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  It  means,"  returned  Phil  dramatically, 
"  that  Mr.  Mareno  is  in  league  with  the 
rebels." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          305 

"  Impossible,"  exclaimed  the  minister 
quickly.  "  His  firm  has  too  much  at  stake 
to  cast  their  fortunes  with  such  scoundrels." 

Phil  was  surprised  that  the  minister  could 
not  see  the  villainy  of  Mareno ;  it  was  plain 
enough  to  him.  Then  he  realized  the  min 
ister  did  not  possess  the  mass  of  incriminat 
ing  evidence  that  they  held  against  him. 
How  could  he  show  the  true  character  of 
this  man  without  betraying  himself  and  his 
companions  ? 

"  What  about  the  valuable  concessions 
held  by  the  American  syndicate  ?  "  he  asked, 
seeing  a  way  to  enlighten  the  minister.  "  Who 
has  the  power  to  give  and  take  away  this 
concession  right  ?  " 

"  The  president  of  Verazala  only,"  replied 
he  perplexedly. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  continued  Phil ;  "  if  Ruiz 
was  president  to  whom  would  he  give  the 
concession  ?  " 

"  To  those  who  offer  him  the  largest  price," 
the  minister  answered  readily,  "  and  that  has 
always  been  this  American  syndicate." 

"  Yes,  but  suppose  he  should  be  heavily 
in  debt  financially  to  the  firm  of  Sefior  Mareno, 


306  A  UNITED  STATES 

besides  being  bound  down  by  promises  before 
he  became  president.  What  then  ?  "  ques 
tioned  Phil. 

"  I  remember  now  that  La  Fitte  and  Com 
pany  have  bid  for  the  concession,"  said  the 
minister  thoughtfully,  "  but  their  price  was 
too  small.  It's  but  a  matter  of  money,  you 
see." 

"  Is  Mr.  Mareno  of  that  firm  ?  "  asked  Phil, 
though  he  knew  he  must  be. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  minister,  "  he  is  the  head 
and  the  largest  stockholder." 

"  Then  that  proves  my  case,"  cried  the  lad. 
"  La  Fitte  and  Company  desire  the  Pitch-Lake 
concession  and  also  the  new  concession  which 
American  capital  is  endeavoring  to  obtain, 
to  open  up  the  rich  mining  country  in  the 
interior  of  the  republic,  which  will  include 
the  right  to  build  a  railroad  over  the  moun 
tains  and  thereby  open  to  the  sea  the  large 
rubber,  coffee  and  sugar  industries  now  shut 
in  by  this  impassable  mountain  range." 

"  Remarkable,"  exclaimed  the  minister, 
intensely  excited.  "  Why  should  I  not  have 
thought  of  that?  I  believed  it  was  but  a 
meaningless  revolution  to  change  the  party 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          307 

in  power.  I  had  no  thought  that  such  black 
intrigue  might  be  bound  up  in  it.  What 
villains  these  men  are  to  sacrifice  hundreds 
of  lives  for  the  sake  of  their  own  pockets." 

"  It  was  by  the  merest  accident  that  we 
unearthed  the  plot,"  said  Phil  delighted  at  the 
success  of  his  argument.  "  There  are  many 
of  Ruiz's  sympathizers  within  the  city  who 
would  have  welcomed  him  with  delight  if 
he  had  been  even  partially  successful  to-day. 
Many  of  General  Barras'  regiments  were  ready 
with  but  slight  encouragement  to  join  the 
rebels ;  all  of  this  was  done  with  Senor 
Mareno's  gold." 

"  What  treachery ! "  the  minister  cried 
angrily.  "  I  shall  write  immediately  to  the 
president  and  give  him  the  name  of  my  in 
formant."  Then  he  looked  with  admiration  at 
the  midshipmen.  "  You  boys  are  a  marvel 
to  me  ;  how  did  you  ever  find  this  out?  " 

Well  pleased  with  the  impression  their  dis 
closure  had  made  on  the  minister,  they  with 
drew  from  his  presence  without  telling  him 
further.  They  were  glad  he  hadn't  required 
proofs ;  to  have  given  them  would  have 
greatly  embarrassed  the  lads,  for  they  could 


308  A  UNITED  STATES 

not  tell  the  minister  of  the  part  they  had 
taken  in  recapturing  the  arms  ;  he  might  not 
agree  to  secrecy  and  this  knowledge  in  the 
hands  of  the  State  Department  in  Washing 
ton  might  cause  serious  consequences. 

O'Neil  joined  them  at  the  door  of  the 
legation;  he  was  now  in  a  sailor  uniform, 
borrowed  from  one  of  the  men  of  the 
guard. 

"  Mr.  Lazar  is  here,"  he  whispered,  "  with 
a  Spaniard ;  they  just  came  through  the 
gate.  There  they  are,"  he  added  as  the  two 
men  approached  the  house  by  the  gravel 
walk  and  mounted  the  steps  of  the  legation. 

As  Lazar  passed  them  the  lads  saluted 
stiffly.  He  turned  a  glance  full  of  hatred  on 
them. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  wait  here  ;  I  wish  to  see  you," 
he  ordered  sharply,  then  he  and  the  visitor 
entered  the  minister's  office. 

Phil  stepped  inside  the  house  noiselessly 
and  stopped  breathlessly  to  listen.  A  sound 
of  voices  raised  excitedly  came  from  within  the 
room.  Phil  quickly  rejoined  his  companions. 

"  That  was  Mareno,"  he  exclaimed,  "  the 
owner  of  the  automobile.  I  can  never  forget 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  309 

his  voice  in  the  tunnel.  He  will  try  to  undo 
our  work  with  the  minister." 

Inside  of  a  minute  Senor  Mareno  ap 
peared  ;  his  swarthy  face  was  pale,  showing 
the  mental  strain  he  was  enduring. 

"  You  see,  I  too  was  deceived,"  he  was 
urging  the  minister,  standing  on  the  thres 
hold  of  his  office. 

The  latter's  answer  was  diplomatic : 

"  You  can  readily  explain  that  to  General 
Barras,"  he  answered.  "  My  letter  will  show 
him  that  I  did  not  misinform  him  inten 
tionally." 

Senor  Mareno  thought  deeply  and  was 
about  to  speak,  but  as  he  glanced  up  at  the 
office  door  the  minister  had  gone  within. 
Then  he  turned  and  regarded  the  midship 
men  blankly  ;  a  spark  of  recognition  turned 
his  face  unconsciously  a  shade  paler,  then 
he  strode  away  down  the  steps  without  a 
word. 

A  moment  afterward  Lazar  confronted 
them. 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  he  said  coldly,  "  you  have 
put  your  authority  above  mine.  I  order  you 
and  your  companions  to  return  to  the  ship 


310  A  UNITED  STATES 

immediately.  Your  mutinous  conduct  on  La 
Mesa  shall  not  pass  unnoticed." 

Phil's  blood  boiled  with  anger.  His  hands 
twitched  and  he  controlled  himself  with 
difficulty.  He  glanced  at  his  companions, 
who  regarded  him  inquiringly ;  he  saw  he 
must  obey. 

As  they  left  the  legation,  they  pondered 
deeply  over  their  predicament.  Lazar  would 
report  the  occurrence  on  La  Mesa.  The 
admiral  and  Captain  Taylor  might  in  their 
hearts  be  glad  the  lads  had  acted  as  they  had, 
but  their  high  positions  in  the  navy  forbade 
their  official  countenance. 

Lazar  might  not  see  fit  to  report  aught  but 
Phil's  disobedience  ;  in  time  of  urgent  danger 
on  foreign  soil,  he,  as  their  senior  officer 
ashore,  had  ordered  them  to  leave  La  Mesa 
and  Phil  had  deliberately  refused  for  himself 
and  companions. 

The  penalty  in  the  "  articles  of  war  "  under 
which  naval  courts  adjudged  their  punish 
ments  was  dismissal  from  the  service. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

AN    IMPORTANT   WITNESS 

"  How  has  he  the  face  to  report  you  for  dis 
obeying  his  order  when  he  must  realize  that 
we  have  evidence  enough  against  him  to  dis 
miss  him  from  the  service?"  exclaimed 
Sydney  as  they  were  on  their  return. 

"  That's  what  puzzles  me,  too,"  declared 
Phil.  "  What  can  he  gain  by  having  me  court- 
martialed  ?  He  can  hardly  expect  me  not  to 
use  all  the  weapons  I  have  to  fight  him  ; 
though  when  you  sum  it  up  our  proofs  are 
not  very  strong  :  Juarez  is  dead,  and  Mareno, 
even  if  he  knows  the  part  Lazar  played  in  the 
arms  case,  would  not  testify  before  a  naval 
court." 

"  But  Craig's  evidence,"  Sydney  interrupted 
earnestly,  "  will  prove  that  he  deliberately 
betrayed  his  trust  and  gave  up  the  arms.  If 
this  evidence  can  be  placed  before  the  court, 
Lazar's  reasons  for  ordering  us  from  La  Mesa 
will  be  clearly  shown." 

311 


312  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Lazar  can't  know  that  Craig  has  confessed 
to  us,"  Phil  replied  happily,  "  and  he  believes 
he'll  have  everything  his  own  way.  If  he 
knew  that  Craig  had  confided  to  us  his  secret 
of  the  stolen  arms,  he  would  not  have  reported 
me  for  the  incident  on  La  Mesa." 

"  What  hold  has  he  over  this  man  Craig  ?  " 
Sydney  questioned  thoughtfully.  "  Would  this 
influence  be  sufficient  to  seal  his  lips?  Sup 
pose  he  should  deny  telling  us  that  the  arms 
were  stolen  from  the  cellar  of  the  legation  ?  " 

"  Even  if  he  should,"  Phil  answered 
decidedly,  "  your  testimony  that  you  heard 
him  give  the  information  would  be  taken  by 
the  court.  He  must  tell  the  truth  in  the 
witness  box  ;  if  not  it  will  not  be  difficult  to 
impugn  his  statements.  However,  you  must 
see  him  as  soon  as  possible  and  tell  him  if  he 
will  speak  the  truth  we  shall  see  that  no  harm 
comes  to  him.  He  fears  Lazar,  but  if  you  can 
show  him  that  we  are  powerful  enough  to 
protect  him,  unless  I  am  much  mistaken  in 
the  man,  he  will  be  glad  to  tell  the  truth." 

"  I  believe,"  cried  Sydney  joyfully,  "  that 
Lazar  has  caught  a  tartar  this  time.  What 
fun  it  will  be  to  see  his  face  when  he  hears 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          313 

that  Craig  has  told  of  his  dishonest  dealings 
with  Juarez." 

Reaching  the  landing  they  took  the  first 
boat  back  to  the  "  Connecticut "  and  reported 
their  return  to  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"  The  captain  wishes  to  see  you  at  once," 
that  officer  said,  addressing  Phil. 

Phil  went  immediately  down  the  cabin 
ladder  and  was  ushered  by  the  orderly  into 
the  presence  of  Captain  Taylor. 

A  glance  at  his  chiefs  face  told  the  anxious 
lad  that  Lazar  had  already  made  his  report. 

Mr.  Pen  field,  who  had  been  in  conversation 
with  the  captain  as  the  boy  entered  the 
cabin,  excused  himself  quickly  and  left,  cast 
ing  a  glance  of  sympathy  at  Phil  as  he  passed 
him. 

It  seemed  to  the  waiting  youth  that  he 
must  have  been  standing  there  a  long  time 
before  Captain  Taylor's  voice  relieved  the  op 
pressive  silence  ;  its  tone  was  not  unkind,  but 
it  was  strictly  official. 

"  I  have  but  this  minute  received  Mr. 
Lazar's  report  of  the  battle,"  he  spoke  slowly, 
punctuating  his  words  ;  "  he  tells  of  the  rout 
of  the  rebels,  which  is  good  news  indeed,  but 


314  A  UNITED  STATES 

he  makes  a  serious  charge  against  you,  Mr. 
Perry."  Here  the  captain  took  in  his  hand  a 
paper  which  he  had  doubtless  been  reading  to 
the  executive  officer  before  Phil  had  appeared. 
"  This  is  Mr.  Lazar's  report  ;  I  shall  read  it  to 
you  :  '  It  is  my  painful  duty  to  report  to  you 
the  following  incidents  which  happened  about 
4  P.  M.  this  afternoon,'  "  the  captain  read  from 
the  paper  in  his  hand. 

"  '  By  order  of  the  minister  I  left  the  lega 
tion  at  3:30  P.  M.  and  rode  out  to  the  lines  to 
view  the  battle  which  I  believed  was  about  to 
commence.  Upon  my  arrival  at  the  out 
skirts  of  the  city  the  first  assault  was  made, 
which  I  was  too  far  away  to  witness  distinctly, 
but  I  saw  that  the  rebels  were  repulsed. 
From  my  position  I  sighted  two  figures  in 
white  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  La  Mesa ;  these 
aroused  my  suspicions,  believing  they  were 
foreigners  helping  the  government  arms. 
Upon  closer  investigation  I  was  astounded  to 
recognize  in  these  figures  Midshipmen  Perry 
and  Monroe,  apparently  in  command  of  a 
detachment  of  Verazala  infantry. 

"  '  Believing  that  they  were  committing  an 
unwise  act,  I  approached  Mr.  Perry  and 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  315: 

ordered  him  to  leave  the  hill  at  once  and  re 
turn  with  me  to  the  legation. 

"  '  He  refused  to  obey  and  defied  my  au 
thority,  turning  his  back  upon  me. 

"  '  By  your  order  I  was  in  supreme  com 
mand  over  our  men  ashore  and  feel  that  I 
was  within  my  authority  in  giving  this  order 
to  Midshipman  Perry. 

"  '  Such  a  serious  breach  of  military  disci 
pline  should  not  go  unpunished,  and  for  the 
good  of  the  service  I  have  to  request  that 
Midshipman  Philip  Perry  be  brought  to  trial 
by  general  court  martial  on  charges  growing 
out  of  this  incident.' ' 

The  captain  ceased  reading  and  laid  the 
paper  on  the  table. 

Phil  was  alarmed  at  the  serious  sound  of 
the  charge  against  him  ;  he  felt  he  was  hope 
lessly  involved.  Even  if  he  could  prove  Lazar 
a  traitor  would  not  his  own  guilt  be  proven  ? 
According  to  military  law  an  order  must  be 
obeyed  without  question.  He  tried  to  speak, 
but  his  throat  was  dry.  Captain  Taylor 
waited,  his  face  full  of  compassion  for  the 
stunned  boy. 

"  I  shall  not  ask  a  statement  from  you  now, 


316  A  UNITED  STATES 

Mr.  Perry,"  the  captain  said  finally.  "  I  fear 
the  charge  is  of  such  a  serious  character  that 
the  admiral  will  order  a  court  at  once." 

Phil  left  the  cabin  and  with  a  heart  full  of 
bitterness  sought  his  own  room.  Sydney 
read  in  his  chum's  face  the  bad  news. 

"  So  he  has  already  done  his  work,"  he  ex 
claimed,  as  Phil  entered  looking  tired  and 
worried  ;  "  but  cheer  up ;  you  are  in  the  right, 
and  when  the  court  has  the  true  story,  Lazar 
will  find  himself  in  a  position  that  with  all  his 
cleverness  he  will  have  difficulty  to  explain." 

Phil  smiled  gratefully  at  his  companion's 
cheerful  attempt  to  console  him. 

"  Syd,  you  must  defend  me,"  he  said,  throw 
ing  himself  in  his  chair  dejectedly.  "  It's  a 
very  serious  charge,"  and  then  Phil  quoted 
the  letter  of  Lazar's,  almost  word  for  word, 
so  deeply  had  it  made  its  impression  on  his 
mind. 

Sydney  agreed  readily  to  act  as  Phil's 
counsel. 

"  Our  case,"  he  declared,  "  must  be  based 
on  Lazar's  motives  for  ordering  us  from  the 
hill.  This  we  can  prove  through  Craig. 
Never  fear,  Phil,  you  will  be  cleared." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          317 

"  My  last  hope  is  in  Craig,"  answered  Phil ; 
"if  he  goes  back  on  us,  we  are  powerless. 
We  can  do  nothing." 

"  It's  a  shame  that  such  a  scoundrel  as  Lazar 
can  pose  as  such  a  paragon  of  virtue,"  cried 
Sydney  hotly,  "  while  we  know  what  a  double 
dyed  villain  he  is  and  have  no  means  of 
proving  it.  As  you  say,  we  are  alone  depend 
ent  upon  breaking  down  the  testimony  of  his 
accomplice.  If  Lazar  doesn't  know  of  Craig's 
confession  this  may  be  easy,  but  if  he  does  he 
will  take  great  pains  to  teach  Craig  how  to 
answer  our  questions." 

Phil's  already  dejected  expression  turned  to 
one  of  deeper  disappointment  as  he  pondered 
on  the  last  words  of  his  companion. 

"  What  innocents  we  are  !  "  he  cried  sud 
denly.  "  Lazar  surely  must  know  that  we 
have  discovered  his  intrigue,  else  how  could 
we  have  found  the  hiding-place  of  the  arms  ? 
If,  as  I  suspect,  Juarez  sent  him  word  we 
were  in  the  house  on  La  Mesa,  then  Lazar 
would  reason  that  he  had  been  found  out  and 
would  know  that  our  information  must  have 
come  from  Craig.  And  yet,  knowing  this,  he 
reports  me,"  he  added  thoughtfully. 


31 8  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Syd,"  he  continued  after  a  pause,  "  this 
man  is  no  common  villain.  We  have  to  deal 
with  a  very  clever  rogue.  There  is  some 
thing  more  that  we  don't  know  about ;  he  is 
not  going  into  this  court  martial  blindly.  If 
he  can  have  me  found  guilty  then  he  will  be 
safe,  because  our  testimony  against  him  will 
be  declared  prejudiced  and  would  not  be  ad 
mitted  before  a  court." 

The  two  midshipmen  were  in  a  state  of 
great  excitement  over  their  perplexing  posi 
tion,  but  their  labors  on  this  eventful  day  had 
so  wearied  them,  that  it  was  but  a  short  time 
after  they  had  "  turned  in  "  before  they  fell 
into  a  sound  and  peaceful  sleep. 

They  awoke  the  following  morning  feeling 
greatly  refreshed  and  better  able  to  grapple 
with  the  problem. 

All  danger  that  the  rebels  would  force  an 
entrance  into  the  city  being  over,  the  admiral 
ordered  the  legation  guard  back  to  the  "  Con 
necticut." 

Phil  and  Sydney  were  on  deck  when  Lazar 
and  his  men  returned. 

"  He  isn't  there !  "  Phil  gasped  as  he  saw 
the  last  man  come  up  the  gangway  ladder 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          319 

and  "  fall  in  "  in  ranks  on  the  quarter-deck. 
"  I  watched  every  man  and  Craig  isn't  among 
them." 

"  Perhaps  there  are  others  ashore,  yet  to 
come,"  vouchsafed  Sydney  hopefully. 

Lazar  had  reported  to  the  officer  of  the 
deck  and  had  then  gone  down  the  compan- 
ionway  to  announce  his  return  to  the  cap 
tain. 

Marshall  and  Morrison  remained  on  deck 
with  the  men  awaiting  Lazar's  return,  before 
being  dismissed  to  go  to  their  quarters. 

Phil  and  Sydney  examined  closely  every 
one  of  the  hundred  bronzed  faces  of  the  lega 
tion  guard.  Craig  was  missing. 

In  a  few  minutes  Lazar  returned,  and  gave 
orders  to  "  break  ranks "  and  go  forward  ; 
then  he  turned  to  his  two  assistants,  and 
raising  his  voice  for  the  benefit  of  Phil  and 
Sydney,  he  said  : 

"  Craig  is  a  good  riddance.  I  believed  he 
was  a  trustworthy  man,  but  I  find  he  has 
betrayed  my  confidence.  I  have  recom 
mended  to  the  captain  that  no  effort  be 
made  to  apprehend  him." 

Lazar   cast   a   glance   of  mingled  triumph 


320  A  UNITED  STATES 

and  scorn  at  the  discomfited  midshipmen  as 
he  passed  down  the  hatch  to  the  deck  below. 

The  boys  were  stupefied.  This  contingency 
had  never  occurred  to  them.  So  Craig  had 
deserted  I 

"  We  can  catch  him,  Phil,"  Sydney  cried, 
when  the  terrible  significance  of  Lazar's  words 
forced  themselves  upon  him  ;  "  steamers  are 
infrequent,  and  if  he  remains  in  the  country 
he  can  be  apprehended  by  the  government." 

"  Lazar  has  doubtless  arranged  for  that," 
Phil  answered  brokenly  ;  "  he  is  too  clever  for 
us,  Syd.  We  are  children  in  his  hands." 

"  But  we  must  capture  him,"  Sydney  ex 
claimed,  thoroughly  aroused ;  "  he  is  our  only 
witness." 

O'Neil,  showing  no  ill  effects  from  his 
rough  handling  of  the  day  before,  was  back 
at  his  ship's  work.  He  saw  the  boys  stand 
ing  disconsolately  on  the  quarter-deck  and 
crossed  over  to  them. 

"  How  are  you,  O'Neil  ? "  Phil  inquired 
solicitously  as  the  sailor  saluted  them. 

"  Never  better,  sir,"  he  answered,  "  but  you, 
sir,  I'm  sorry  to  hear  of  the  trouble  you  are 
in  ;  and  that  fellow  Craig,  that  you  were 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          321 

counting  so  much  on,  has  deserted.  The 
men  say  he  is  too  sick  to  go  far  and  had 
been  acting  queer  like  all  last  evening. 
When  the  guard  fell  in  to  be  marched  on 
board  this  morning  he  was  missing." 

"  Too  sick  to  go  far?"  questioned  Phil 
eagerly. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  the  sailor  answered,  "  the  men 
of  the  guard  say  he  coughed  all  the  time  ; 
they  all  believe  he  can't  live  long." 

Phil  turned  to  Sydney. 

"  Syd,  Lazar  will  try  to  send  him  off  by 
steamer.  If  he  hasn't  gone  already  we  may 
be  able  to  catch  him,"  he  cried  hopefully. 
"  Lazar  has  furnished  him  money  and  has 
recommended  to  the  captain  that  no  search 
be  made  for  him." 

"  There  ain't  been  no  steamer  sailing  since 
last  night,"  declared  O'Neil ;  "  that  steamer 
with  the  blue  smoke-stack  is  the  next  one 
to  leave  ;  she's  flying  the  sailing  flag  now. 
Craig  must  be  still  in  La  Boca." 

"Syd,"  Phil  cried  hurriedly,  "I  may  be 
put  under  arrest  now  at  any  moment,  but 
you  and  O'Neil  will  be  free.  It  may  be  pos 
sible  that  we  can  outwit  Lazar  yet.  You 


322  A  UNITED  STATES 

must  go  ashore  and  find  Craig.  Promise  him 
anything  if  he  will  return  and  speak  the 
truth." 

"  If  he  is  in  La  Boca,  trust  O'Neil  to  find 
him,"  declared  the  sailor  stoutly. 

Phil  saw  the  captain's  orderly  approaching. 
His  heart  felt  like  lead  :  here  was  his  sum 
mons,  he  felt  sure. 

"  Captain  Taylor  would  like  to  see  Mr. 
Perry,"  the  orderly  announced  as  he  reached 
Phil's  side. 

The  lad  descended  to  the  cabin  with  sink 
ing  hopes.  He  found  the  captain  awaiting 
him,  nervously  pacing  up  and  down  his  nar 
row  cabin. 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  he  said  as  he  caught  sight  of 
the  attentive  midshipman,  "  I  have  a  very 
painful  duty  to  perform  ;  "  he  held  a  paper  in 
his  outstretched  hand  ;  Phil  took  it  in  silence. 
"  Those  are  the  charges  against  you,"  he  con 
tinued  slowly  ;  "  the  admiral  orders  that  you 
be  tried  by  court  martial." 

The  lad's  eyes  were  full  of  tears  of  anger 
and  mortification.  He  dared  not  speak.  He 
feared  he  might  say  too  much  and  prejudice 
himself  with  his  captain. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          323 

"  You  will  send  me  your  sword  and  con 
sider  yourself  in  close  arrest."  The  captain 
added,  "  The  trial  is  set  for  to-morrow  morn 
ing  at  eight  o'clock." 

Then  the  captain  dropped  from  his  voice  its 
official  coldness  and  put  his  hand  affection 
ately  on  the  humiliated  lad's  shoulder. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  you  have  been  a  great  disap 
pointment  to  me,"  he  said  sadly.  "  Your 
work  here  has  been  all  the  more  admirable  be 
cause  it  can  never  receive  official  sanction. 
It  must  always  be  kept  a  secret  from  our 
government  in  Washington.  Even  our  adk 
miral,  as  powerful  as  he  is,  could  not  save 
you  if  your  part  in  this  war  came  to  the 
official  ears  of  the  Navy  Department.  '  The 
end  justifies  the  means  '  does  not  fit  such  a 
case.  By  your  loyal  and  plucky  work,  you 
and  your  companions  have  saved  our  govern 
ment  from  very  complicating  and  perhaps 
dangerous  diplomatic  conflicts  with  foreign 
powers.  You  have  also  saved  American 
merchants  from  great  financial  losses.  But 
nevertheless,"  he  added  after  a  short  pause, 
"  Mr.  Lazar  was  well  within  his  authority 
when  he  ordered  you  away  from  La  Mesa ; 


324  A  UNITED  STATES    , 

and  from  my  knowledge  of  that  officer  I  be 
lieve  he  was  acting  according  to  his  best  judg 
ment  and  for  your  own  good.  You  should 
not  have  taken  part  in  this  fight  at  all,  but  it 
was  far  worse  as  you  did  it,  openly,  wearing 
the  uniform  of  the  United  States." 

"  Believe  me,  Captain  Taylor,"  cried  Phil 
earnestly,  "  we  were  not  on  La  Mesa  for  pure 
love  of  fighting ;  there  was  a  good  reason 
and  I  hope  to  be  able  to  show  soon  that  my 
act  of  disobedience  was  not  as  black  as  it 
looks." 

"  I  sincerely  hope,  Mr.  Perry,"  Captain 
Taylor  replied  kindly,  "  that  you  can  explain 
this  seemingly  deliberate  act  of  insubordina 
tion." 

Phil  left  the  cabin  in  a  happier  frame  of 
mind  than  he  had  entered.  He  was  assured 
of  Captain  Taylor's  sympathy  and  his  and  his 
companion's  work  had  been  appreciated.  He 
saw  how  these  high  officers  must  regard  their 
work  on  La  Mesa,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
story  of  the  Colt  guns  and  Lazar's  part  in 
their  betrayal.  If  Craig  could  be  found  now 
all  would  be  plain  sailing.  The  court  on 
hearing  his  testimony  against  Lazar  would 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          325 

surely  acquit  Phil  of  criminality  in  his  dis 
obedience. 

He  entered  his  room  glad  in  the  thought 
that  with  two  such  friends  as  Sydney  and 
O'Neil,  Craig  would  soon  be  found  and 
brought  aboard  to  give  his  evidence  before  the 
court. 

But  Sydney's  greeting  sent  the  happiness 
out  of  his  heart  and  put  there  a  feeling  of 
hopelessness  beyond  power  of  expression. 

"  Phil,  that  scoundrel  has  laid  his  wires 
cleverly,"  he  cried  angrily.  "  O'Neil  and  I  are, 
by  the  admiral's  order,  restricted  to  the  ship 
until  the  '  Connecticut '  sails.  Lazar  is  bound 
that  Craig  shall  not  be  found." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE    COURT    MARTIAL 

PHIL  felt  his  last  hope  had  gone.  Craig, 
their  only  witness,  would  make  good  his 
escape.  There  was  nothing  left  for  him  but 
to  face  the  court  martial  and  be  found  guilty 
of  one  of  the  most  serious  offenses  against 
military  discipline. 

"  It's  perfectly  hopeless,  Syd,"  he  exclaimed 
dejectedly  ;  "  we  can  make  no  defense  without 
this  man." 

"  Cannot  Marshall  be  induced  to  hunt  for 
him  ashore  ? "  questioned  Sydney  thought 
fully  ;  "  he  is  your  friend  and  hasn't  any  love 
for  Lazar." 

"  We  might  do  that,"  answered  Phil  readily. 
Then  he  shook  his  head  on  second  thoughts  ; 
"  it  won't  help  us.  Lazar  will  find  it  out  and 
see  a  means  of  keeping  him  aboardship  too. 
He  is  a  master  schemer." 

A  soft  tap  on  their  door  sounded  startling!  y 
to  the  unstrung  lads.  They  exchanged 

326 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          327 

glances,  despair  written  on  their  faces.  They 
had  spoken  in  low  tones,  but  they  knew  the 
ship  was  a  sounding  board.  Had  they  said 
anything  that  might  be  advantageous  to  their 
enemy  ? 

Phil  stepped  to  the  curtain  and  drew  it 
cautiously  aside,  half  expecting  to  see  the 
cynical  face  of  Lazar. 

"  Why,  O'Neil !  "  he  cried  gladly,  "  you 
gave  us  a  scare.  Come  in." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  Phil  added,  seeing  the  look 
of  determination  in  the  sailor's  face. 

"  I've  heard  that  '  all  hands  '  are  to  be  kept 
on  board  ship,"  the  sailor  answered.  "  I  heard 
Mr.  Penfield  talking  to  Mr.  Lazar  on  the 
quarter-deck  a  minute  ago.  The  admiral 
has  given  the  order.  Mr.  Lazar  has  gone  to 
the  admiral  himself  to  get  permission  to  go 
ashore." 

"  That's  his  doing,"  cried  Sydney  hotly. 
"  But  he'll  get  the  permission,"  he  added 
dejectedly. 

"  What  I  was  going  to  say,  sir,"  O'Neil  con 
tinued,  "  is,  I  have  made  my  mind  up  to 
catch  this  fellow  Craig,  and  I've  come  for 
that  uniform  I  wore  on  the  dago  war-ship." 


328  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  knew  you  couldn't  be  downed,  O'Neil," 
Sydney  exclaimed  delightedly.  "  I  have  the 
three  suits  here.  I  was  keeping  them  for 
souvenirs." 

Phil's  face  during  the  time  his  companions 
were  talking  wore  a  look  of  quiet  dignity. 
He  now  put  his  hand  affectionately  on  the 
sailor's  shoulder. 

"  I  can't  allow  you  to  take  this  risk,"  he 
said  gently.  "  It's  my  misfortune  and  I  shall 
stand  it." 

O'Neil  interrupted  him  hurriedly. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  John  O'Neil  is  always  ready 
to  obey  you,  but  in  this,  sir,  I  know  what  is 
best.  I  want  the  clothes.  I  am  too  old  a 
hand,  sir,  to  get  caught.  You  can  trust  me  for 
that." 

Phil  would  have  broken  in,  but  O'Neil 
would  be  heard. 

"  I  knew  how  you'd  act  about  it,  sir,  but  I 
need  the  uniform." 

Sydney  dragged  the  uniform  out  from  a 
locker  and  gave  it  to  the  sailor. 

"  Here  you  are,"  he  cried,  "  don't  listen  to 
Mr.  Perry.  He  seems  to  want  to  be  convicted. 
I'll  go  with  you  if  you  need  me." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          329 

"  No,  sir,"  O'Neil  replied  decidedly.  "  You 
are  better  here  cheering  up  Mr.  Perry,  but 
before  that  court  meets  you'll  see  me  bringing 
Craig  back,  ready  to  give  his  evidence." 

"  What's  your  plan  ?  "  Sydney  asked,  fol 
lowing  the  sailor  from  the  room. 

"  It's  this,  sir,"  he  answered.  "  I  am  going 
to  watch  every  vessel  that  leaves  port,  and  if  I 
find  Craig,  I'll  get  him  to  come  back  with 
me,  whether  he  wants  to  or  not.  Trust  me, 
sir,  if  I  clap  eyes  on  him  back  he'll  come." 

"  That's  a  good  idea,"  Sydney  agreed  ;  "  our 
last  hope  is  in  you,  O'Neil,"  he  added,  as  he 
returned  to  join  Phil. 

"  O'Neil  seems  confident  that  he  can  locate 
him,  Phil,"  Sydney  said  in  a  cheering  voice 
as  he  reentered  their  stateroom.  "  He  only 
told  me  half  of  his  plan,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  I  believe  he  knows  what  he  is  doing." 

Phil  was  reading  over  the  fatal  paper  given 
him  by  the  captain.  The  wording  of  the 
charges  against  him  seemed  written  in  fire  on 
his  brain. 

A  moment  later  the  captain's  orderly  came 
for  the  midshipman's  sword.  Phil  gave  it  to 
him  with  a  heart  full  of  anguish. 


330  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Lieutenant  Barnes  is  on  deck,  sir,  and 
would  like  to  see  Mr.  Perry,"  the  orderly  said, 
a  look  of  sympathy  in  his  face.  "  I  hope  you 
ain't  guilty,  sir/'  he  added  hastily. 

Phil  almost  smiled  at  the  earnestness  of  the 
kind-hearted  marine. 

"  Thank  you,  orderly,"  he  answered  grate 
fully. 

Lieutenant  Barnes  entered  the  boys'  state 
room  shortly  afterward.  The  lads  stood 
quickly  to  attention. 

"  Mr.  Perry,  I  am  the  judge  advocate  of 
your  court,"  the  officer  announced  in  official 
tones,  holding  himself  very  straight  and  re 
garding  Phil  coldly.  "  I  see  you  have  re 
ceived  a  copy  of  the  charges  against  you," 
noticing  the  paper  Phil  held  in  his  nervous 
hand.  "  Do  you  desire  any  one  to  act  as  your 
counsel  ?  " 

Phil's  throat  was  parched  ;  he  swallowed 
several  times  before  he  could  find  voice  to 
speak. 

"  Midshipman  Monroe,  sir,  has  offered,"  he 
replied. 

"  Very  good,"  the  officer  consented  ;  "  you 
will  be  ready  at  8  A.  M.  tomorrow.  Your 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          331 

counsel  will  inform  me  at  that  time  the 
witnesses  you  wish  to  call  in  your  defense." 
He  bowed  ceremoniously  and  withdrew. 

'•  There's  not  much  kindness  in  him,  is 
there,  Syd  ? "  Phil  observed  sadly.  "  He 
believes  I  am  guilty,  by  the  way  he  looked 
at  me." 

"  What  are  we  to  do  ?  "  Sydney  exclaimed. 
"  If  O'Neil  fails  you  must  take  the  stand  and 
tell  all." 

"  No,  I  shan't  do  that,"  Phil  declared ; 
4'  the  court  would  not  believe  our  estimate 
of  Lazar.  It  would  be  easy  for  him  to  con 
vince  the  court  that  he  had  acted  honestly 
and  that  our  charges  were  malicious.  If 
Craig  is  not  found  I  must  take  my  punish 
ment  in  silence." 

"  But  if  O'Neil  and  I  both  testify  to  the 
truth  of  your  story,  Phil,"  Sydney  urged. 

"  Even  then,"  he  replied.  "  Lazar  could 
not  be  accused.  The  fact  that  Craig  de 
serted  would  point  to  the  latter's  guilt  in 
allowing  the  guns  to  be  taken  from  the  lega 
tion  and  would  prove  Lazar's  innocence. 
Sydney,  if  Craig  is  not  found  I  stand  con 
victed." 


332  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  weary,  anxious  day  dragged  slowly  by. 
The  fateful  morning  dawned. 

At  the  hour  set,  Phil  and  Sydney  were 
ready  to  appear  before  the  court. 

Phil  dreaded  the  ordeal.  Far  rather 
would  he  have  faced  a  battery  of  Colt  guns 
than  go  before  those  seven  commissioned  of 
ficers,  accused  as  he  was  of  a  military  crime. 

With  heart  beating  fast,  and  with  pale,  set 
face  he  took  the  chair  next  the  judge  advo 
cate  ;  Sydney  sat  beside  him,  a  determined 
look  in  his  eyes. 

Phil  raised  his  head  and  braved  the  eyes  of 
the  court. 

The  picture  now  before  his  eyes  would  never 
be  forgotten.  The  officers  were  all  strangers 
to  him,  selected  from  other  ships  than  his 
own.  At  the  head  of  the  long  table  sat  the 
president,  a  captain  in  the  navy,  command 
ing  a  battle-ship  in  the  fleet ;  the  other  six 
officers  were  all  above  the  rank  of  ensign. 

Phil  saw  his  sword  brought  in  by  the 
captain's  orderly  and  placed  on  the  court 
table,  its  sheathed  point  directed  at  him 
self,  the  accused.  He  knew  that  this  sword 
would  be  the  silent  tale  bearer  of  the  court's 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          333 

verdict.  If  after  the  trial  was  over  the  sword 
remained  with  its  point  toward  him  he  had 
been  adjudged  guilty,  but  if  upon  entering 
to  receive  the  judgment,  the  sword  had 
been  swung  with  its  hilt  toward  him,  then 
the  court  had  found  him  not  guilty. 

The  judge  advocate  arose,  and  in  a  clear 
voice  read  the  admiral's  order  assembling 
the  court  for  the  trial  of  Midshipman  Perry. 

The  formalities  of  organization  were  soon 
over  and  the  court  was  ready  to  try  the  ac 
cused  on  the  charges. 

As  one  in  a  dream  Phil  heard  the  detailed 
charges  read.  He  knew  them  by  heart,  but 
now  in  the  cold  hard  tones  of  Lieutenant 
Barnes  they  rang  ominously. 

"  He,  the  said  Midshipman  Philip  Perry, 
did  maliciously  and  wilfully  disobey  the 
order  of  his  superior  officer  Ensign  Jules 
Lazar,  who  was  then  and  there  in  the  execu 
tion  of  his  lawful  duty,  and  further  did  treat 
his  superior  officer,  the  said  Ensign  Jules 
Lazar,  with  contempt,  and  was  insubordinate 
to  him  by  words  and  gestures  ;  this  to  the 
prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  disci 
pline." 


334  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  awful  sound  took  his  breath  away. 
A  voice  was  saying  to  him  in  his  inner  con 
sciousness,  "  You  are  guilty,  you  are  guilty." 

Yes,  every  word  was  only  too  true ;  he 
could  deny  nothing,  but  he  must  plead 
"  not  guilty,"  in  hopes  that  Craig  would 
arrive  in  time  to  give  his  testimony. 

There  was  a  pause ;  the  judge  advocate 
cleared  his  throat.  The  court  shifted  their 
positions  expectantly.  Phil's  heart  seemed 
almost  ready  to  stop  beating  while  the  prose 
cutor's  voice  sounded  through  the  quiet 
room  : 

"  You,  Philip  Perry,  have  heard  the 
charges  preferred  against  you.  What  say 
you  :  Guilty  or  not  guilty?  " 

Phil  mustered  all  his  strength  and  in  a  clear 
voice  answered  : 

"  Not  guilty." 

In  a  few  moments  Lazar  entered  the  court 
room.  He  was  calm  and  self-possessed.  He 
walked  up  to  the  president  promptly  and 
took  the  oath ;  then  he  sat  down  carelessly  in 
the  witness  chair,  and  turned  upon  Phil  a  cold 
scrutinizing  gaze. 

Lazar  told  his  story  to  the  hushed  court. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  335 

Phil  knew  it  was  the  truth,  but  not  the  whole 
truth  which  Lazar  had  sworn  to  tell. 

The  witness  had  finished  ;  the  judge  advo 
cate  turned  to  Phil,  questioningly. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  interrogate  the  witness  ?  " 
he  asked. 

Phil  shook  his  head  and  Lazar  withdrew 
from  the  room,  casting  an  incredulous  look  at 
the  accused  midshipman. 

The  judge  advocate  ceased  his  writing  and 
looked  up  at  the  president  of  the  court. 

"  Mr.  President,"  he  announced  slowly, 
"  there  is  no  other  witness  for  the  prosecution. 
Ensign  Lazar's  testimony  is  not  disputed  ;  it 
proves  every  word  of  the  charges  against  the 
accused."  He  sat  down  in  silence,  then  he 
glanced  quickly  at  Sydney,  sitting  stunned  by 
Phil's  side. 

"  The  defense  begins,"  he  added. 

The  two  lads  exchanged  glances.  O'Neil 
had  not  returned. 

"  Who  is  your  first  witness  ? "  asked  the 
judge  advocate  impatiently. 

Sydney  was  about  to  speak  ;  he  would  ask 
to  be  put  in  the  witness  chair  ;  he  could  tell 
the  true  story  to  the  court ;  surely  they  would 


336  A  UNITED  STATES 

see  it  was  the  truth,  but  Phil's  quiet  resigned 
voice  cut  short  his  intentions. 

"  I  have  no  witnesses  to  call,"  he  said  in  a 
low  voice. 

The  court  was  astounded ;  its  members 
looked  surprisedly  at  one  another.  The 
president  arose  to  his  feet. 

"  Mr.  Perry,"  he  began,  "  do  you  understand 
the  gravity  of  these  charges  ?  Can  you  make 
no  defense  ?  Can  you  give  no  reason,  no  excuse 
for  your  extraordinary  conduct  ?  Will  you 
not  make  a  statement  to  the  court?  Your 
record  at  the  Naval  Academy  and  here  on  the 
'  Connecticut '  is  too  good  to  be  so  stained 
without  some  reason." 

The  court  showed  their  accord  by  nods  of 
assent. 

Phil  turned  to  Sydney,  a  look  of  pain  in  his 
eyes. 

"  O'Neil  has  failed,"  Sydney  whispered;  "he 
would  come  direct  to  the  court  if  he  were  on 
board." 

Phil  arose  to  his  feet,  his  face  pale  and 
anxious.  The  court  was  silent,  in  breathless 
expectancy. 

"  I  can  offer  no  excuse,  sir,"  he  said  in  a 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          337 

voice  suppressed  with  emotion.  "  I  can  only 
say  that  I  acted  according  to  my  belief  in 
what  was  my  duty."  His  face  became  suf 
fused  with  embarrassment  as  he  realized  how 
odd  his  words  must  sound  to  these  officers  who 
knew  nothing  of  the  real  circumstances  ;  but 
he  must  gain  time ;  perhaps  even  now  O'Neil 
was  returning  with  the  missing  witness.  Once 
the  trial  was  finished  he  would  stand  con 
victed  and  even  Craig's  testimony  could  not 
change  the  decision  of  the  court. 

"  My  first  duty  was  to  remain  where  I  was, 
and  to  do  this  it  was  necessary  that  I  should 
disobey  Mr.  Lazar's  direct  order.  I  can  say  no 
more,"  he  said  finally,  covered  with  confusion. 

As  Phil  stopped  and  sat  down,  a  hum  of  as 
tonishment  passed  over  the  court.  What  did 
he  mean  ?  Had  the  strain  unbalanced  his 
mind  ?  were  the  questions  asked  in  glances 
of  the  eye  by  his  judges  sitting  solemnly  be 
fore  him. 

The  judge  advocate  arose  to  his  feet  to  make 
his  closing  address  to  the  court. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  commenced,  "  the  accused 
by  the  evidence  is  proved  guilty.  It  is  my 
duty  as  prosecutor  for  the  United  States  Navy 


338  A  UNITED  STATES 

to  point  out  that  the  offense  of  which  he  is 
charged  is  one  of  the  most  serious  against 
military  and  naval  discipline,  and  is  punish 
able  under  the  '  articles  of  war  '  by  dismissal 
from  the  navy  of  the  United  States.  The  ex 
cuse  offered  by  the  accused  is  unintelligible 
and  worthless." 

He  sat  down,  his  eyes  riveted  on  the  presi 
dent  of  the  court.  The  latter  raised  his  hand  ; 
Phil  knew  that  when  it  fell  to  the  table  the 
trial  would  be  over  and  no  more  witnesses 
could  be  summoned.  It  was  a  dreadful  mo 
ment  for  the  accused  midshipman.  He  knew 
he  sat  before  his  judges  adjudged  guilty  of  the 
military  crime  of  which  he  was  accused. 

The  president,  with  his  hand  still  raised, 
hesitated  ;  he  seemed  unwilling  to  make  the 
trial  a  closed  book.  As  he  paused  thus,  there 
came  a  knock  on  the  door  of  the  cabin. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE    SEARCH 

O'NEiL  after  leaving  the  midshipman  went 
to  his  room  under  the  forecastle  and  hid 
away  the  bundle  of  clothes  until  nightfall, 
when  he  intended  to  leave  the  ship  under  the 
cover  of  darkness. 

As  soon  as  he  was  sure  his  movements 
could  not  be  observed,  he  let  himself  over  the 
bow  of  the  battle-ship  and  silently  dropped 
into  the  water  ;  his  foreign  uniform  he  carried 
in  a  flat  roll  on  his  head.  He  was  a  strong 
swimmer,  and  in  but  a  few  minutes  he  was 
standing  safely  on  the  dock.  The  friendly 
darkness  permitted  him  unobserved  to  dis 
card  his  sailor  clothes,  and  he  soon  stood 
completely  disguised  in  the  garb  of  a  Verazala 
naval  officer. 

He  started  out  briskly  for  the  public  land 
ing,  hired  a  shore  boat  and  was  soon  along 
side  the  "  Aquadores." 

339 


340  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  officer  on  duty  greeted  him  as  an  old 
friend,  and  the  boatswain's  mate  was  shortly 
in  Captain  Garcia's  presence. 

O'Neil  told  his  errand  as  soon  as  Captain 
Garcia  would  allow  him  time  to  speak  ;  the 
Spaniard  was  enthusiastic  in  his  reception  of 
the  American  sailor. 

"  And,  sir,  I  knew  you  would  help  me 
catch  this  man,"  he  added;  "our  young 
friend  is  to  be  tried  by  court  martial,  and 
if  found  guilty  will  be  dismissed  from  the 
service." 

Captain  Garcia  showed  the  anxiety  he  felt 
for  Phil's  predicament. 

"  I  am  always  at  the  service  of  my  Ameri 
can  friends,"  he  declared  immediately  ;  "  but 
how  may  I  help  you  find  this  man?  " 

"  He  will  go  by  steamer,"  replied  O'Neil, 
"  and  we  must  find  out  the  one  and  drag  him 
off  before  she  sails.  If  I  go  alone  I  can't  do 
it,  but  you  are  known  and  they  won't  dare 
stop  us,  if  you  are  with  me." 

"  But  may  he  not  have  sailed  already  ?  " 
questioned  Captain  Garcia  anxiously. 

"  I  have  thought  of  that,"  O'Neil  answered 
decidedly ;  "  he  was  at  the  legation  late  last 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          341 

night,  and  there  has  been  no  steamer  sail 
ing  since.  I'll  stake  anything  that  he  is  still 
in  La  Boca." 

Inside  of  two  hours  every  vessel  in  the 
harbor  had  been  visited  by  the  two  men,  but 
they  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  Craig 
was  not  on  board  any  of  them. 

Bitterly  disappointed  they  walked  discon 
solately  through  the  brilliantly  lighted  streets 
of  the  town  ;  the  city  was  in  gala  dress, 
celebrating  the  victory  won  by  the  govern 
ment  arms.  They  passed  many  soldiers  of 
both  armies,  arm  in  arm ;  their  differences 
were  forgotten  already  and  they  fraternized 
as  if  they  had  always  been  the  best  of 
friends. 

O'Neil  felt  his  mission  had  failed.  To 
morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock  the  court 
would  try  the  midshipman,  and  the  missing 
witness  was  as  far  out  of  his  grasp  as  ever. 
Where  in  this  great  city  could  he  turn  to 
search  for  him?  Then  his  thoughts  turned 
to  Ensign  Lazar ;  he  had  gone  to  the  admiral 
to  obtain  permission  to  go  ashore  when  he 
went  to  the  midshipmen's  room.  Where 
would  he  be  in  this  thickly  populated  city  ? 


342  A  UNITED  STATES 

O'Neil  felt  confident  that  if  he  could  find 
him  Craig  would  not  be  far  away. 

The  two  friends  were  passing  a  palatial 
residence  on  the  Plaza.  An  automobile 
standing  at  the  curb  caught  O'Neil's  eye, 
the  chauffeur  sitting  erect  and  expectant  in 
the  front  seat. 

"  Whose  house  is  that?  "  he  asked,  suddenly 
turning  to  Captain  Garcia. 

"  The  house  of  one  of  our  most  loyal 
citizens,  Senor  Mareno,"  he  answered  ;  "  he  is 
rich  and  powerful  and  stands  high  in  the 
favor  of  General  Barras.  That  is  his 
automobile ;  he  rides  in  it  all  the  time  ;  it 
has  just  been  returned  to  him;  it  was  stolen 
on  the  day  of  the  assault  by  the  rebels  from 
one  of  his  country  villas." 

O'Neil  stopped  suddenly  and  gazed  at  the 
house.  Mareno  must  be  there  ;  the  automo 
bile  was  awaiting  him ;  its  gasoline  engine 
was  puffing  and  ready  to  propel  the  heavy 
car  over  the  streets  of  the  city  at  a  speed  far 
greater  than  they  could  possibly  follow. 

Captain  Garcia's  voice  interrupted  O'Neil's 
cheerless  thoughts. 

"Our  president,"  he  was  saying,  "for  the 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          343 

loyal  work  of  Senor  Mareno's  firm,  La  Fitte 
and  Company,  during  the  war,  has  promised 
to  give  the  vast  mining  concession  to  it.  In 
these  times  of  rebellion  loyalty  is  a  rare 
jewel." 

"  What  did  Mareno  do  ?  "  asked  O'Neil  in 
genuine  surprise. 

"  It  was  he  that  loaned  the  government  the 
money  to  buy  the  '  Aquadores,' '  Captain 
Garcia  answered  proudly.  "  Our  government 
had  no  credit  and  the  company  who  built  the 
cruiser  would  not  allow  her  to  leave  their 
shipyard  until  every  dollar  of  the  money  had 
been  paid.  The  victory  of  the  '  Aquadores  ' 
at  Rio  Grande  made  the  rebel  cause  a  failure, 
for  if  they  had  won  and  then  had  blockaded 
La  Boca,  the  government  must  have  fallen." 

O'Neil  was  puzzled  ;  there  was  more  in 
trigue  that  his  friends  the  midshipmen  had 
failed  to  discover.  So  Mareno  had  made 
himself  secure  with  both  sides. 

"  If  it  had  not  been  for  you  and  your  com 
panions,"  continued  Captain  Garcia  after  a 
pause,  "  we  could  not  have  won.  My  crew,  as 
you  know,  were  green  men  and  were  almost 
mutinous.  My  officers  were  half  hearted 

v 


344  A  UNITED  STATES 

and  my  executive  officer  I  feel  sure  was  in 
the  pay  of  the  enemy.  He  resisted  my  au 
thority  from  the  day  we  left  the  United 
States  and  when  we  sailed  from  La  Boca  for 
Rio  Grande,  I  found  a  means  of  leaving  him 
behind." 

While  Captain  Garcia  was  speaking  two 
men  came  hurriedly  out  of  the  house  and 
got  into  the  waiting  machine. 

"  That's  Senor  Mareno  now,"  exclaimed 
Captain  Garcia.  "  I  know  him  well.  He 
owns  most  of  the  steamship  lines,  and  can 
help  us  by  ordering  his  agents  to  watch  for 
this  man  when  he  buys  his  ticket.  I  shall 
speak  to  him  at  once,"  and  he  drew  away 
from  O'Neil  and  stepped  quickly  to  the  side 
of  the  machine. 

"  Good-evening,  Senor  Mareno,"  he  said 
saluting  him  in  military  fashion.  "  May  I 
detain  you  but  a  moment?" 

Mareno  turned  a  startled  face  toward  the 
naval  officer. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  questioned  im 
patiently. 

O'Neil  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  meeting 
was  inopportune  for  the  merchant.  The 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          345 

sailor  edged  nearer,  his  curiosity  aroused. 
An  electric  street  lamp  above  them  threw 
their  faces  in  shadow  ;  but  there  was  some 
thing  familiar  in  the  figure  sitting  beside 
Mareno  in  the  automobile. 

"  Mr.  Lazar,"  he  gasped  beneath  his  breath  ; 
he  reached  out  and  took  Captain  Garcia  by 
the  arm,  almost  roughly,  and  wheeled  him 
about.  The  next  second  the  automobile  had 
gone. 

Captain  Garcia  turned  on  O'Neil,  a  world 
of  surprise  in  his  face. 

"  Why  did  you  do  that  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  He  surely  could  have  helped  us." 

The  sailor  looked  about  him  hurriedly. 
So  Lazar  and  Mareno  were  hiding  Craig.  If 
they  would  find  him  they  must  follow  the 
automobile  ;  but  how  ? 

"  The  man  with  him  was  Ensign  Lazar," 
O'Neil  explained  to  the  amazed  captain.  "  If 
he  recognizes  me  the  game  is  up.  How  can 
we  follow  them  ?  " 

Captain  Garcia  was  still  more  amazed  at 
hearing  this  startling  news.  Why  was  Sefior 
Mareno  with  Mr.  Lazar?  What  part  had 
Sefior  Mareno  in  the  plot  to  convict  his 


346  A  UNITED  STATES 

young  friend,  Midshipman  Perry  ?  And  was 
he  a  friend  of  the  man  who  had  sold  the 
machine  guns  back  to  the  rebels  ? 

"  Come,"  he  cried  much  aroused,  "  there's 
an  automobile  standing  on  the  next  corner, 
but  I  fear  we  can't  catch  them ;  Senor 
Mareno's  machine  is  the  fastest  in  the 
city." 

As  luck  would  have  it  they  found  a  wait 
ing  machine,  and  jumping  in  Captain  Garcia 
hurriedly  gave  the  order. 

"  Mariel  road,  quick,"  he  cried  to  the 
chauffeur. 

In  a  minute  they  were  speeding  through  the 
streets  and  out  on  the  lonely  road  to  Mariel. 

The  quarry  was  not  in  sight ;  had  they 
turned  off  on  one  of  the  many  cross  streets? 
This  was  surely  the  direction  they  had  taken. 

They  sped  along,  O'Neil  pressing  money 
into  the  hands  of  the  chauffeur  to  open  wider 
his  throttle. 

"  There  they  are,"  O'Neil  whispered  tri 
umphantly  as  a  dark  object  came  in  sight 
ahead.  The  pursuers  were  gaining  slowly. 

The  machine  ahead  was  slowing,  and  O'Neil 
whispered  to  their  chauffeur  to  go  on  by. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          347 

They  passed  Mareno  and  Lazar  as  they 
were  alighting  from  the  automobile  and 
entering  a  large  house  by  the  roadside. 

"  Mareno's  country  home,"  whispered  Cap 
tain  Garcia  as  their  machine  whizzed  past. 

"  Then  here  we'll  find  Craig,"  replied 
O'Neil  confidently,  as  he  directed  the  chauf 
feur  to  stop  their  machine. 

Out  of  sight  of  the  overtaken  men  they 
left  their  machine  and  went  back  on  foot. 
Reaching  the  house  they  saw  Mareno's  auto 
mobile  had  drawn  up  inside  the  yard  and 
the  chauffeur  had  already  made  himself 
comfortable  for  a  nap. 

"  They  are  inside,"  O'Neil  whispered,  "  and 
will  be  there  some  time,  from  the  looks  of 
that  man  yonder,"  pointing  to  the  reclining 
figure.  "  We've  got  to  get  inside." 

Captain  Garcia  hesitated. 

"  This  man  Mareno  is  powerful,"  he  ob 
jected.  "  I  dare  not  force  an  entrance  into 
his  house." 

They  had  approached  the  house  from  the 
rear.  O'Neil  pushed  a  door  gently  ;  it  yielded 
and  the  next  moment  they  found  themselves 
in  a  small  room. 


348  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  room  was  unlighted,  but  the  fire  on  the 
hearth  illuminated  obscurely  their  surround 
ings. 

A  native  jumped  up  from  a  couch,  rubbing 
his  eyes  ;  seeing  the  officers  he  doffed  his  hat 
respectfully. 

"  Whom  do  you  wish  to  see,  senors?"  he 
asked. 

"  We  are  friends  of  Senor  Mareno,  who  is 
up-stairs,  is  he  not?  We  shall  goup,"  O'Neil 
answered  quickly  in  a  low  voice. 

The  man  seemed  to  hold  no  suspicions  ;  he 
was  glad  to  get  back  to  his  interrupted  nap. 

"  Very  well,  senors,"  he  answered. 

The  two  men  cautiously  walked  up  the  nar 
row  stairs.  Reaching  the  next  floor,  they 
stopped,  breathless,  to  listen. 

A  sound  of  voices  came  from  a  room  in  the 
front  of  the  house. 

Captain  Garcia  was  worried.  He  did  not 
relish  his  mission  ;  there  was  too  much  at 
stake  for  him  if  Mareno  discovered  that  they 
had  forced  an  entrance  into  his  house.  In 
these  countries  it  is  but  a  step  to  a  prison  cell 
and  another  to  the  execution  wall  where  many 
men  are  put  to  death  daily  during  these 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  349 

revolutions.  He  was  anxious  to  retrace  his 
steps,  but  O'Neil  held  him  firmly  by  the  arm. 

The  voices  of  Mareno  and  Lazar  sounded 
distinctly ;  they  were  talking  in  loud  natural 
tones,  so  sure  were  they  that  they  were  alone 
in  this  lonely  house. 

"  I  have  changed  the  letter,  Sefior  Mareno," 
Lazar  was  saying  ;  "  here  it  is  :  as  it  reads  now 
your  name  does  not  appear  and  Midshipman 
Perry's  name  has  been  substituted.  But  you 
must  make  sure  that  the  minister  and  the 
president  never  meet,  for  they  might  discover 
the  change  in  the  letter." 

"  I  have  arranged  that,"  answered  Mareno. 
"  As  soon  as  the  fleet  leaves,  which  will  be  to 
morrow,  the  president  will  telegraph  to  Wash 
ington  for  the  minister's  recall,  giving  the 
reason  that  he  is  unsatisfactory  to  the  govern 
ment." 

"  Good,"  Lazar's  voice  replied  ;  "  then  you 
have  nothing  to  fear,  unless  General  Ruiz 
might  tell  of  your  share  in  the  rebellion." 

"  Ah,"  Mareno's  voice  had  a  glad  ring,  "  he 
knows  nothing.  Juarez  alone  knew  of  my  sup 
port,  and  he  is  dead  ;  he  was  the  agent  in  all 
my  transactions." 


350  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Very  well ;  I  shall  deliver  this  letter  in 
person  at  the  palace  this  evening,"  Lazarsaid, 
"  and  then  we  must  put  this  man  on  board  the 
steamer.  I  don't  believe  he  will  live  to  reach 
Mexico." 

Captain  Garcia  knew  nothing  of  the  letter, 
but  from  the  trend  of  the  conversation  between 
the  two  conspirators  he  saw  that  the  much 
trusted  Mareno  had  done  something  which 
Lazar  was  endeavoring  to  cover  up  for  him. 
He  dared  not  ask  O'Neil ;  even  a  whisper 
might  be  heard. 

"  What  is  the  name  of  the  steamer  ?  "  Lazar 
added.  "  It  is  now  after  midnight.  At  what 
time  will  she  sail  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  '  Mercedes ' ;  one  of  our  own 
ships,"  Mareno  answered  ;  "  she  is  scheduled  to 
sail  at  daylight  and  her  first  port  will  be  Vera 
Cruz,  Mexico  ;  her  captain  need  know  noth 
ing  except  that  the  sick  man  is  to  be  landed 
there." 

"  Can't  she  sail  as  soon  as  we  get  this  man 
on  board  ?  "  Lazar  asked  eagerly.  "  I  shall 
breathe  freer  when  he  is  on  the  high  seas.  My 
enemies  have  resources  and  the  sooner  we  get 
this  man  away  the  less  danger  there  is  for  me. 


T 


HE  DOOR  OI'  THE  ROOM  OPENED 
SUDDENLY 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          351 

The  court  meets  at  eight  o'clock,  and  without 
this  witness  my  friend  Midshipman  Perry 
must  be  convicted." 

"  That  can  be  easily  arranged,"  Mareno 
agreed  at  once.  "  She  has  already  cleared  the 
custom  house  and  can  sail  whenever  I  give 
the  word." 

O'Neil  glanced  at  Captain  Garcia's  face. 
The  light  through  the  transom  of  the  room  in 
which  the  conspirators  were  shone  dimly  on 
his  strong  face.  O'Neil  was  fairly  startled  at 
its  expression.  He  feared  that  upon  hearing 
the  course  which  his  enemy  would  pursue, 
Garcia  might  act  precipitately,  and  spoil  the 
plan. 

"  Come,"  the  sailor  whispered,  grasping  the 
captain's  arm,  "  we  must  go." 

But  the  naval  officer  could  not  be  moved. 
He  reached  in  his  pocket  and  drew  out  a  silver- 
mounted  revolver,  and  took  a  step  forward  to 
ward  the  door  of  the  room. 

"  You'll  spoil  everything,"  O'Neil  whispered 
hoarsely. 

The  door  of  the  room  opened  suddenly  and 
a  flood  of  light  shone  out  in  the  hallway. 
Lazar  stood  on  the  threshold,  his  face  turned 


352  A  UNITED  STATES 

backward  over  his  shoulder ;  he  was  talking 
to  Mareno  behind  him. 

"Craig  is  up-stairs,  is  he  not?  I  shall  get 
him  and  join  you  immediately,"  he  said. 

O'Neil  was  terribly  anxious.  If  their  pres 
ence  were  discovered,  the  conspirators  would 
change  their  plans.  The  light  seemed  to  fall 
directly  upon  himself  and  Captain  Garcia. 
How  could  Lazar  fail  to  see  them  ? 

Lazar  passed  the  eavesdroppers  so  close  that 
it  seemed  to  O'Neil  detection  was  a  certainty. 
What  should  he  do  ?  He  dared  not  lift  his 
hand  against  his  superior  officer.  His  long 
training  in  the  navy  had  taught  him  what 
terrible  consequences  would  be  the  result  of 
such  a  rash  act.  He  held  his  breath  tightly 
and  drew  Captain  Garcia  closer  against  the 
wall.  The  door  swung  shut  and  the  hall  was 
again  in  partial  gloom.  Lazar's  footfalls 
could  be  heard  ascending  the  stairs. 

"  We've  got  to  get  out,"  he  breathed  in  re 
lief  as  he  half  dragged  his  companion  down 
the  steps. 

They  left  the  house  by  the  way  they  had 
entered  ;  this  time  they  were  not  observed,  for 
the  caretaker  of  the  house  was  fast  asleep. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          353 

Reaching  their  automobile  they  got  in  and 
waited  for  their  enemies  to  leave  the  house. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ? "  Captain  Garcia 
asked  excitedly.  "  What  is  this  letter?  " 

O'Neil  explained  how  Mareno  had  informed 
the  minister  that  Ruiz's  attack  would  be  on 
Tortuga  Hill.  How  the  midshipmen  had 
discovered  him  in  the  house  of  Juarez  where 
the  stolen  arms  were  stored,  and  how  the 
minister  had  written  a  letter  to  General 
Barras  telling  from  whom  the  information 
came. 

"  A  clever  plot  indeed,"  cried  Captain 
Garcia.  "  Mr.  Lazar  has  changed  this  letter 
clearing  Senor  Mareno  and  putting  the  guilt 
on  Midshipman  Perry's  shoulders,  and  Senor 
Mareno  has  induced  the  president  meanwhile, 
before  the  arrival  of  the  letter,  to  ask  the 
Washington  government  to  recall  the  min 
ister.  My  inclinations  were  as  an  officer  of 
our  government  to  arrest  Senor  Mareno  for 
treason." 

"  That  would  have  defeated  us,"  answered 
O'Neil.  "  They  wouldn't  have  submitted 
without  a  fight  and  I  couldn't  have  raised 
my  hand  against  Ensign  Lazar." 


354  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  that  Senor  Mareno  is 
a  rebel,"  declared  Captain  Garcia  excitedly ; 
"  if  so,  why  did  he  buy  the  '  Aquadores  '  for 
General  Barras'  government  ?  " 

"  That's  easy  to  see  now,"  answered  O'Neil 
with  a  superior  smile;  "didn't  you  say  your 
executive  officer  was  mutinous  and  your  crew 
were  all  green  men  ?  " 

The  naked  truth  dawned  on  the  unsuspect 
ing  naval  officer. 

"  You  mean  that  Mareno  believed  that  on 
our  arrival  in  La  Boca  the  '  Aquadores ' 
would  fly  the  rebel  flag,"  cried  the  naval 
officer,  aghast  at  the  depth  of  the  treason  of 
which  Mareno  was  the  instigator. 

"  Certainly,"  O'Neil  replied  ;  "  he  thought 
it  was  as  good  as  buying  her  for  the  rebels 
and  a  better  and  easier  way.  Even  when  you 
went  after  the  rebel  ships  at  Rio  Grande,  he 
was  sure  you'd  be  licked,  and  before  he  could 
get  news  of  the  fight  he  spread  the  report 
that  she'd  been  sunk." 

Captain  Garcia  was  stunned  at  the  extent 
of  the  conspiracy. 

"  Then  I  owe  you  and  your  companions 
much  more  than  I  dreamed,"  he  cried  putting 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          355 

his  arm  affectionately  on  O'Neil's  shoulder. 
11  That  explains  why  their  two  vessels  seemed 
so  eager  to  give  us  battle.  They  thought  we 
would  prove  an  easy  victim." 

O'Neil  nodded. 

"  But  now,  Captain  Garcia,"  he  exclaimed 
earnestly,  "  you've  got  your  chance  to  repay 
us." 

"  Myself  and  everything  I  can  command 
are  at  your  service,"  the  Spaniard  gratefully 
replied. 

"  Then  here's  my  plan,"  O'Neil  explained 
hurriedly  :  "  they'll  put  Craig  in  that  machine 
and  take  him  to  La  Boca ;  then  on  board  the 
'  Mercedes,'  and  we  can't  stop  them.  She'll 
get  away  and  then  we'll  follow  her  in  the 
'  Aquadores  '  and  bring  Craig  back.  Isn't  that 
easy?  Will  you  do  it?" 

"  Willingly,"  the  captain  exclaimed  delight 
edly.  "  You  are  a  clever  man  to  have  thought 
of  this.  Fortunately  I  have  steam  up  in  my 
vessel  and  as  soon  as  we  get  on  board  we  can 
be  underway." 

It  seemed  hours  to  the  anxious  men  before 
Mareno's  machine  moved  slowly  up  to  the 
door  ;  its  headlight  cutting  through  the  dark- 


356  A  UNITED  STATES 

ness  illuminating  brightly  the  courtyard  in 
front  of  the  house. 

"  They  are  going  at  last,"  whispered  O'Neil. 
"What  time  is  it?" 

Captain  Garcia  took  out  his  watch  and 
glanced  at  its  face. 

"  It's  after  two,"  he  answered  ;  "they  have 
been  in  there  two  hours." 

The  automobile  in  front  of  the  house  moved 
swiftly  toward  them.  As  it  reached  the 
machine  in  which  our  friends  were  awaiting  it 
speeded  up  and  tore  past  them.  O'Neil  looked 
closely  ;  the  curtains  were  drawn,  and  he  could 
see  nothing  within. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  "  questioned  Cap 
tain  Garcia  in  amazement.  "  They  are  going 
to  Mariel." 

"  It  means  my  plan  is  no  good,"  cried  O'Neil 
despairingly.  "  Mareno  has  had  the  '  Mer 
cedes  '  sent  to  Mariel  and  they'll  put  him  on 
board  her  there." 

"  Quick,  man,"  cried  Captain  Garcia  as  he 
watched  Senor  Mareno's  machine  fade  in  the 
distance.  "  What  shall  we  do?" 

O'Neil  was  in  deep  thought.  Did  he  dare 
attack  these  men  and  take  Craig  forcibly 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          357 

away  from  them?  It  would  mean  a  prison 
for  him. 

"  Follow  them,"  he  ordered  sharply,  "  for  all 
you're  worth.  I'll  give  you  ten  pesos  if  you 
catch  her  before  we  get  to  Mariel,"  he  cried  to 
the  chauffeur. 

Their  automobile  bounded  ahead  and  rushed 
along  the  dark  road.  Mile  after  mile  was 
eaten  up  by  the  steel  monster.  The  anxious 
men  peered  ahead  hoping  to  see  the  dark  form 
of  Mareno's  machine,  but  the  suburbs  of 
Mariel  were  reached  and  their  enemies  were 
still  invisible. 

"  If  we  catch  'em,"  rasped  O'Neil,  "  we  must 
seize  Craig  by  force ;  it's  our  last  chance." 

Captain  Garcia  was  delighted.  That  had 
been  his  plan  from  the  first. 

"  I'll  swing  for  it  if  Mr.  Lazar  recognizes 
me,"  O'Neil  muttered,  "but  the  fun  '11  be 
worth  it." 

The  black  smudge  in  the  road  ahead  of  them 
slowly  took  shape  out  of  the  darkness.  The 
anxious  seekers  breathed  easier,  as  they  looked 
to  their  weapons. 

"  Bring  her  alongside,"  O'Neil  ordered  the 
amazed  chauffeur. 


358  A  UNITED  STATES 

The  man  did  not  relish  this  hazardous 
undertaking  on  a  rough  and  narrow  road,  but 
the  sight  of  the  sailor's  revolver  gave  him  the 
courage  to  steer  his  machine  abreast  of  the 
fleeing  automobile  ahead  of  them. 

"  Hold  there  !  "  Captain  Garcia  shouted  fir 
ing  his  revolver  to  emphasize  his  order  ;  "  we 
want  to  speak  to  you." 

The  other  machine  immediately  slowed  and 
the  two  cars  were  soon  motionless  side  by  side 
on  the  road. 

It  was  but  the  work  of  a  second  for  our  two 
friends  to  leap  out  of  their  car  and  throw  back 
the  curtains  of  the  other  car.  O'Neil,  with  his 
automobile  goggles  concealing  the  upper  part 
of  his  face,  advanced,  his  revolver  in  front  of 
him  covering  the  occupants  inside.  Captain 
Garcia  covered  with  his  revolver  the  trem 
bling  chauffeur. 

"  They  are  not  here,"  O'Neil  gasped  ;  "  they 
have  tricked  us  again." 

O'Neil  was  in  despair.  Captain  Garcia's 
watch  showed  it  was  nearly  three  o'clock. 
Their  enemies  had  surely  gone  to  La  Boca 
hours  ago  and  had  used  this  automobile 
to  delay  them  until  they  could  get  Craig 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          359 

safely  on  board  the  ship  and  away  from  the 
harbor. 

"  They  knew  we  had  followed  'em,"  O'Neil 
exclaimed.  "  That  native  wasn't  as  sleepy  as 
we  thought." 

In  a  second  they  were  inside  their  machine 
and  were  speeding  back  along  the  road. 

Reaching  the  villa  of  Mareno,  they  alighted 
by  mutual  consent  and  boldly  entered  the 
house  by  the  rear  door. 

The  native  was  dragged  from  his  bed  and 
under  the  terrifying  influence  of  a  loaded 
revolver  at  his  head  confessed  that  Sefior 
Mareno  and  two  companions  had  gone  on  foot 
nearly  three  hours  ago,  and  that  they  had 
been  told  of  the  presence  in  the  house  of  the 
two  naval  officers. 

"  We  can  catch  her  yet,"  Captain  Garcia 
declared  stoutly  as  they  sped  back  to  La  Boca. 

In  the  course  of  what  seemed  ages  to  O'Neil, 
but  was  in  reality  but  a  half  hour,  they  were 
on  board  the  "  Aquadores." 

As  the  cruiser  steamed  out  of  the  harbor, 
O'Neil  heard  with  a  sinking  heart  the  bells 
strike  on  the  men-of-war  at  anchor.  It  was 
four  o'clock  and  the  escaping  vessel  had  over 


360  A  UNITED  STATES 

three  hours  start.  He  had  lost.  The  court 
would  meet  in  four  short  hours  and  Mid 
shipman  Perry  would  be  adjudged  guilty. 

Swiftly  the  "  Aquadores  "  steamed  to  the 
westward.  Captain  Garcia  and  O'Neil  on  the 
forward  bridge  watched  with  failing  hopes 
the  gray  of  dawn  spread  on  the  eastern  hori 
zon  behind  them.  The  sea  in  front  was  un 
broken.  Their  prize  was  not  in  sight. 

Swiftly  the  cruiser  plowed  her  way  through 
the  tranquil  sea,  but  swifter  yet  the  hands  of 
the  clock  moved  around  its  fatal  dial.  The  sun 
appeared  on  the  horizon  out  of  a  molten  sea. 

As  the  gloom  slowly  melted,  the  eager 
sailor,  straining  his  eyes  to  discover  the 
vessel  he  hoped  the  increasing  light  would 
soon  reveal,  sighted  the  black  hull  of  a 
steamer  but  a  few  miles  ahead. 

"  We've  got  her  !  "  he  cried  joyously,  then 
he  turned  with  apprehension  and  saw  the 
hands  of  the  clock  stood  at  six.  "  Stop  her 
with  a  shot !  "  he  pleaded.  "  We  need  every 
minute." 

Captain  Garcia  gave  a  hurried  order  and 
a  six-inch  shell  soared  in  the  air,  raising  a 
column  of  water  close  to  the  merchantman. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  361 

"  That  did  the  business,"  O'Neil  exclaimed 
as  the  merchantman  stopped  and  ran  up 
Verazalan  colors  at  her  gaff. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  "  Aquadores  "  was 
hove  to  near  the  "  Mercedes  "  and  Captain 
Garcia  and  O'Neil  were  quickly  rowed  to 
the  intercepted  vessel. 

They  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  sea  ladder, 
where  the  merchant  captain  met  them. 

"  You  have  a  sick  man  on  board,"  Captain 
Garcia  began  in  a  tone  of  authority  ;  "  we 
want  to  take  him  back  with  us  immediately. 
Do  you  understand  ?  " 

The  sailing  master  gave  the  naval  men  a 
look  of  inquiry  and  amazement. 

"  We  have  a  man  who  is  very  ill ;  he  was 
brought  on  board  by  Senor  Mareno  just  be 
fore  we  sailed,"  he  answered.  "  This  is  ir 
regular,"  he  added,  more  boldly. 

"  You  are  on  the  high  seas,"  Captain 
Garcia  retorted  savagely.  "  I  alone  am  re 
sponsible  for  my  actions.  Take  me  to  this 
man." 

The  merchantman  was  not  in  his  em 
ployer's  secret,  but  he  readily  saw  that  these 
officers  were  defeating  his  intentions.  Fear 


362  A  UNITED  STATES 

of  Mareno  made  him  hesitate.  But  he  knew 
he  was  at  their  mercy  ;  a  glance  at  the  for 
midable  cruiser  close  by  assured  him  of  that. 

"  Come  with  me,"  he  said  gruffly,  leading 
them  to  a  stateroom  on  the  lower  deck. 

There  O'Neil  saw  a  sight  that  wrung  his 
heart.  Craig's  emaciated  form  lay  on  the 
bed  ;  his  feverish  eyes  wide  with  a  terrible 
fear  as  he  recognized  the  boatswain's  mate,  in 
spite  of  his  foreign  uniform. 

The  petty  officer  walked  over  to  his  bed 
side  and  looked  down  at  him  compassionately. 
He  put  his  hand  almost  affectionately  on  his 
hot  brow. 

"  You  must  come  back  with  us,  Craig,"  he 
said  determinedly  ;  "  you'll  not  be  harmed. 
Don't  kick  ;  we've  just  time  to  get  back  to 
clear  Mr.  Perry." 

The  sick  man  cringed  and  turned  white 
with  terror.  A  fearful  shaking  took  hold  of 
his  thin  form. 

"  I  dare  not,"  he  pleaded  in  a  terrified 
whisper.  "  They'll  send  me  to  a  peniten 
tiary  for  my  crimes." 

"  Don't  take  on  so,"  exclaimed  O'Neil  in 
exasperation,  as  he  saw  the  precious  minutes 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          363 

slipping  away.  "  A  hospital  is  where  they'll 
send  you." 

He  beckoned  to  Captain  Garcia  and  to 
gether  they  lifted  the  almost  exhausted  man 
from  his  bed ;  he  struggled  feebly,  but  soon 
realized  he  was  only  wasting  his  strength. 

They  carried  him  down  into  the  boat  and 
aboard  the  "  Aquadores,"  which  was  soon 
heading  at  top  speed  back  for  La  Boca. 

O'Neil  did  his  utmost  to  cheer  the  dejected 
machinist,  who  lay  tossing  miserably,  brood 
ing  over  his  imaginary  troubles. 

"You  just  tell  the  truth,  Craig,"  O'Neil 
counseled,  "  and  you'll  not  be  harmed.  Mr. 
Lazar  will  not  be  in  it  if  you  tell  your  tale 
to  the  court." 

O'Neil  saw  with  sinking  hopes  that  it  was 
eight  o'clock ;  the  court  had  met  and  the 
"Aquadores"  was  nearly  half  an  hour  away. 
If  she  were  too  late  in  bringing  this  impor 
tant  witness,  none  but  the  President  of  the 
United  States  could  grant  a  reprieve  to  the 
condemned  midshipman. 

"  But  do  your  best,  Captain  Garcia,"  he 
urged.  "  If  luck  is  with  us  we  may  save 
him  yet." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

CONCLUSION 

THE  loud  knock  on  the  door  resounded 
through  the  tense  stillness  of  the  court  room. 
The  door  was  thrown  open  violently  and  the 
stalwart  figure  of  O'Neil,  with  Craig  trembling 
beside  him,  stood  on  the  threshold. 

Sydney  sprang  to  his  feet  and  placed  him 
self  beside  the  boatswain's  mate. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  unwarranted 
intrusion  ?  "  cried  the  president  of  the  court, 
turning  fiercely  on  O'Neil. 

"  This  man  is  a  witness  for  the  defense," 
cried  Sydney,  joyously  pointing  at  Craig. 

The  court  turned  in  amazement  to  gaze  at 
the  would-be  deserter. 

"  I  object  to  further  testimony,"  announced 
the  judge  advocate  earnestly  ; "  the  case  is  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  court." 

Phil's  heart  beat  wildly.  Would  the  presi 
dent  sustain  this  objection  ? 

364 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          36$ 

The  president  rose  to  his  feet ;  the  court 
room  became  so  still  that  the  heavy  breathing 
of  O'Neil  and  his  prisoner,  from  their  recent 
exertions  to  arrive  in  time,  was  plainly  audible 
above  all  other  sounds. 

14  The  case  is  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
defense,"  the  president  announced.  "  I  shall 
administer  the  oath  to  the  witness." 

O'Neil  withdrew  quietly,  leaving  Craig 
within  the  court  room. 

"  Were  you  on  a  hill  called  La  Mesa  near 
the  city  of  La  Boca  on  the  day  of  the  assault 
by  the  insurgents?"  the  judge  advocate  asked 
the  witness  after  he  had  been  directed  to  take 
the  stand  by  the  president. 

Craig  looked  at  Sydney  nervously  then  he 
answered  in  a  trembling  voice  : 

"  No,  sir." 

The  judge  advocate  jumped  to  his  feet. 

"  I  object  to  this  witness,"  he  cried  loudly  ; 
"  he  can  know  nothing  of  the  charges." 

The  president  glanced  at  the  faces  of  his 
colleagues.  They  nodded  their  approval. 

"  The  objection  is  sustained,"  he  was  on  the 
point  of  saying  when  he  caught  sight  of 
Sydney's  anxious  face.  The  latter  had  sprung 


366  A  UNITED  STATES 

from  his  chair  and  was  endeavoring  to  catch 
the  president's  eye  before  the  fatal  words  were 
uttered. 

"  Well,  what  have  you  to  say  ?  "  the  officer 
asked  impatiently. 

Sydney  thought  rapidly  ;  as  Phil's  counsel 
he  could  plead  and  say  things  he  knew  his 
chum  would  be  too  modest  to  tell. 

"  I  ask  the  court's  indulgence,"  Sydney 
commenced,  seeking  for  appropriate  words  to 
convey  clearly  all  that  was  in  his  mind  to  the 
members  of  the  court.  "  The  accused  has  been 
charged  with  disobeying  the  orders  of  his 
superior  officer  on  La  Mesa  the  day  of  the  as 
sault.  We  have  two  witnesses  who  will  testify 
that  in  a  house  belonging  to  the  ex-vice-consul, 
Mr.  Juarez,  thirty  Colt  automatic  guns  with 
ammunition  were  found  ;  that  these  guns  were 
mounted  by  the  accused  and  his  companions 
and  manned  by  a  company  of  government 
soldiers.  The  attack  was  on  La  Mesa,  although 
the  minister  representing  the  United  States 
had  informed  General  Barras  that  a  reliable 
informant  had  told  him  the  attack  would  be 
upon  Tortuga  Hill.  We  can  show  that  the 
presence  of  the  accused  and  his  companions 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT  367 

was  indispensable  on  La  Mesa  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Lazar's  arrival.  If  the  order  had  been 
obeyed  the  Colt  guns  would  have  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  insurgents,  which  would  have 
discredited  the  minister  and  the  United  States 
in  the  eyes  of  the  existing  government.  Our 
witness  Craig  will  tell  the  part  Mr.  Lazar  has 
taken  in  connection  with  these  arms  and  will 
show  why  the  accused  deliberately  disobeyed  a 
positive  order." 

Sydney  sat  down,  his  eyes  flashing,  his 
face  pale  and  anxious. 

The  court  was  silent  for  a  fraction  of  a  second 
and  then  a  hum  of  surprised  interrogation 
spread  among  its  members.  All  knew  of  the 
captured  arms  and  how  the  rock-filled  boxes 
were  found  at  the  legation. 

"  The  witness  will  be  allowed  to  testify,"  the 
president  spoke  decidedly. 

"  I  have  no  further  question  to  ask,"  snapped 
the  judge  advocate,  betraying  in  his  voice  the 
disappointment  at  losing  his  point. 

The  court  looked  to  Sydney ;  he  whispered 
reassuringly  to  the  unnerved  Craig. 

The  terrified  sailor's  voice  was  so  low 
pitched  that  the  seven  judges  strained  their 


368  A  UNITED  STATES 

hearing  to  listen.  The  silence  was  pro 
found. 

"  At  New  York,  while  we  were  there  for  re 
pairs,"  he  commenced  feebly,  "  I  received  a 
telegram  that  my  sister  was  dying.  I  went  to 
Mr.  Lazar  as  the  senior  officer  on  board  at  the 
time  and  asked  for  leave  to  go  to  her  bedside. 
He  refused  me  permission.  I  showed  him  the 
telegram  and  her  picture  in  a  locket  I  always 
carried  with  me  ;  she  was  my  only  living  rela 
tive  and  we  were  everything  to  each  other.  I 
implored  with  tears  in  my  eyes.  He  refused 
again  and  accused  me  of  deceiving  him  to  get 
ashore  when  I  was  not  entitled  to  liberty. 

"  The  next  day  I  received  word  she  had 
died.  The  executive  officer  was  on  board 
and  allowed  me  to  go  to  bury  her  body. 

"  I  hated  this  officer,  Ensign  Lazar,  for  his 
cruelty  to  me  and  when  I  saw  an  opportunity 
to  injure  him  I  was  happy.  I  filed  half-way 
through  the  hoist  wire  in  his  turret.  The 
accident  happened,  as  I  knew  it  must;  but 
unfortunately  for  me  while  I  was  filing  the 
wire  rope  Mr.  Perry  came  into  the  turret ;  he 
heard  me  at  work  and  called.  In  my  haste 
to  leave  before  he  could  detect  me,  I  turned 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          369 

in  the  darkness  to  escape.  The  locket  was  in 
the  pocket  of  my  blouse  which  I  had  laid  on 
the  turret  floor.  I  heard  it  fall  on  the  metal 
deck  as  I  grasped  my  clothes,  but  there  was 
no  time  to  regain  it.  Afterward  I  risked 
detection  in  getting  it  from  Mr.  Perry's  room, 
but  I  soon  found  that  Ensign  Lazar  had  al 
ready  seen  it  and  recognized  the  locket  I  had 
shown  him,  and  knew  at  once  that  I  had  been 
guilty  of  injuring  the  turret.  He  told  me  if 
I  didn't  want  to  go  to  jail  for  a  long  term  of 
years  I  must  do  as  he  told  me.  I  feared  him. 
He  first  made  me  try  to  injure  the  '  Vidette's  ' 
machinery  on  the  night  those  arms  were 
captured.  Then  I  was  wounded  and  before  I 
had  recovered  entirely  I  was  taken  ashore 
with  him  and  forced  to  sleep  in  the  cellar  of 
the  legation.  He  told  me  that  on  a  certain 
night  I  was  to  open  the  boxes,  all  but  one, 
and  that  men  would  come  through  a  tunnel 
below  the  cellar  and  carry  the  Colt  guns 
away,  giving  me  rocks  to  put  in  their  places. 
"  I  heard  one  of  the  natives  who  received 
the  arms  tell  another  where  they  were  to  be 
taken,  and  when  Mr.  Perry  discovered  that 
the  boxes  were  full  of  rocks  and  that  the 


370  A  UNITED  STATES 

arms  were  gone,  I  told  him  what  I  had  done 
and  where  they  had  been  taken. 

"  I  didn't  want  to  desert,  but  Mr.  Lazar 
told  me  I  had  betrayed  him  and  that  if  I 
didn't  he  would  find  a  way  to  dispose  of  me. 
He  made  all  the  arrangements  and  hid  me  in 
the  house  of  a  friend  of  his ;  then  last  night 
they  took  me  on  board  a  steamer,  where  O'Neil 
found  me." 

The  judge  advocate  was  on  his  feet  before 
the  witness's  voice  had  died  into  nothing 
ness. 

"  I  object  to  this  testimony,"  he  cried  im 
petuously,  making  a  last  attempt  to  reinstate 
himself  and  prove  his  case  against  the  ac 
cused.  "  By  his  own  evidence,  this  man  is  a 
criminal ;  his  testimony  is  malicious  and 
should  not  be  received  in  evidence.  He 
stands  a  would-be  deserter  from  the  navy." 

The  president  of  the  court  hesitated.  The 
truth  in  the  judge  advocate's  words  was  im 
pressive. 

"  Recall  Mr.  Lazar,"  he  ordered,  after  a  mo 
ment's  thought.  "  He  should  be  here  to  hear 
this  evidence  and  clear  up  this  imputation 
against  his  good  name  in  the  navy." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          371 

The  court  orderly  was  sent  to  summon 
Lazar  again  before  the  court. 

The  two  midshipmen  sat  anxiously  watch 
ing  the  door  for  the  appearance  of  their 
enemy.  They  knew  him  to  be  a  clever 
rogue.  This  situation  had  never  occurred  to 
them.  Would  Lazar  deny  Craig's  testimony 
and  assert  that  this  sick  cringing  sailor  was 
alone  guilty  of  the  crime  ?  Craig's  testimony 
came  as  a  surprise  to  the  lads ;  they  had  not 
suspected  that  he  was  the  owner  of  the  locket. 

The  time  dragged  heavily.  The  president 
became  impatient.  He  glanced  at  the  clock  ; 
its  hands  showed  it  was  now  twenty  minutes 
since  the  orderly  had  gone  to  notify  the 
ensign  to  appear.  What  had  detained  him  ? 
He  must  be  on  board  ship.  Permission  to 
leave  the  ship  would  not  be  granted  him 
while  the  court  was  in  session. 

The  orderly  opened  the  door  quietly  and 
saluted  the  president. 

"  Ensign  Lazar  can't  be  found,  sir,"  he  re 
ported,  "  but  the  captain  is  outside,  sir,  and 
wants  to  appear  before  the  court." 

Captain  Taylor,  a  sheet  of  paper  in  his 
hand,  strode  into  the  court-room. 


372  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Mr.  President,"  he  exclaimed  excitedly, 
"  Mr.  Lazar  has  left  the  ship  without  obtain 
ing  permission.  This  is  the  communication 
that  he  has  sent  me.  I  shall  read  it  to  the 
court." 

"  SIR  : 

"  I   hereby   tender   my   resignation   as   an 
ensign  in  the  United  States  Navy. 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"  JULES  LAZAR, 
"  Ensign,  U.  S.  Navy." 

The  midshipmen  were  joyous.  Lazar's  cour 
age  had  failed  him.  If  he  had  braved  it  out 
and  thrown  discredit  on  Craig's  evidence, 
Phil  might  have  after  all  stood  convicted,  for 
on  this  testimony  their  case  was  constructed. 
But  Lazar  dared  not  commit  perjury  before 
his  brother  officers. 

"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  explain  its  meaning," 
Captain  Taylor  added,  folding  the  paper. 

The  court  understood,  but  by  law  they 
could  not  enlighten  the  mystified  captain, 
who  withdrew. 

"  Is  there  any  further  evidence  ?  "  inquired 
the  president  after  the  court  had  recovered  a 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          373 

little  from  its  surprise.  Sydney  and  the  judge 
advocate  said  they  had  nothing  more  to  offer. 

"  Then  the  trial  is  finished,"  the  president 
announced. 

The  judge  advocate,  and  the  accused  and 
his  counsel  arose  to  leave  the  court  room,  but 
the  president  waved  them  back  to  their  seats, 
glancing  inquiringly  at  his  colleagues.  Each 
member  nodded  his  head  in  the  affirmative, 
without  hesitation.  The  president  took  up 
Phil's  .sword  lying  on  the  court  table  with 
its  point  toward  the  accused,  and  swung  its 
hilt  within  reach  of  the  lad's  hand. 

This  mute  confession  that  he  was  held 
guiltless  filled  the  midshipman's  heart  with 
joy.  He  looked  with  gratitude  on  the  presi 
dent,  who  had  relieved  his  mind  of  its  heavy 
burden.  This  acknowledgment  of  their 
verdict  was  irregular  and  for  that  reason 
Phil  felt  all  the  more  grateful.  The  official 
news  might  be  days  in  reaching  him  and 
relieving  his  mind.  The  proceedings  must 
first  be  written  smoothly,  signed  by  all  the 
members  and  reviewed  by  the  admiral  be 
fore  he  would  hear  officially  that  he  had 
been  cleared  of  the  terrible  charges. 


374  A  UNITED  STATES 

With  hearts  overflowing  with  gladness  the 
two  midshipmen  helped  the  almost  prostrated 
witness  to  his  feet  and  supported  him  from 
the  court  room. 

"  You  have  nothing  to  fear,"  Phil  whis 
pered  to  him  encouragingly  as  the  doctor's 
attendants  bore  him  away  to  the  sick  bay. 

At  the  door  of  their  room  they  found 
O'Neil  awaiting  them,  a  broad  smile  on 
his  face. 

"  I  knew  it  was  going  to  be  all  right,"  he 
exclaimed  as  they  greeted  him  enthusiastic 
ally,  "  when  I  saw  Mr.  Lazar  steal  away  in 
a  shore  boat  from  the  port  gangway.  He 
slipped  off  when  the  officer  of  the  deck 
wasn't  looking  and  left  a  paper  with  the 
corporal  of  the  guard." 

"  That  was  his  resignation,"  Sydney  ex 
plained.  "  After  he  knew  Craig  was  before 
the  court  his  courage  deserted  him  ;  but 
however  did  you  find  the  witness?" 

O'Neil  led  them  into  the  room,  drawing 
the  curtain,  then  detailed  his  experiences  of 
the  night  before. 

"  Captain  Garcia  is  the  one  who  got  him," 
he  ended  unselfishly.  "  If  it  had  not  been 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          375 

for  him  and  the  '  Aquadores,'  Craig  would 
have  gotten  away  sure." 

"  Captain  Garcia  has  put  me  as  much  in 
his  debt  as  he  claimed  he  was  in  ours,"  ex 
claimed  Phil  gladly.  "  Where  is  he?  I  hope 
we'll  have  a  chance  to  thank  him  before  we 
sail." 

"That  you  will,  sir,"  O'Neil  returned. 
"  He  said  he'd  go  direct  to  General  Barras, 
so  that  Mareno  could  be  nabbed,  and  then 
he'd  come  aboard  here  to  say  good-bye  ;  he 
knows  we  sail  at  noon." 

Sydney  and  O'Neil  went  about  their  routine 
work  on  shipboard,  but  Phil  remained  in  his 
room.  His  empty  sword  rack,  however,  gave 
him  no  twinges  of  regret.  For  the  first  time 
in  two  days  he  felt  at  peace  with  the  world. 
The  illness  of  Craig,  the  man  whose  testimony 
had  stood  between  him  and  dismissal,  con 
cerned  him.  He  resolved  to  stand  by  him 
and  see  that  he  received  the  best  of  care. 

Phil  had  been  alone  with  his  thoughts 
for  nearly  an  hour  when  he  heard  a  bugle 
call  ring  out  sharply  on  the  deck  above  him, 
followed  by  hoarse  commands. 

Putting   his  head  out  of  his  air  port,  he 


376  A  UNITED  STATES 

saw  the  sailors  on  the  battle-ships  manning 
the  rail,  their  guards  and  bands  falling  in  on 
their  quarter-decks.  He  knew  the  import  of 
this  formation  at  once  :  the  president  of  Vera- 
zala  was  on  his  way  to  visit  the  admiral. 

Sydney  came  rushing  in  for  his  sword, 
giving  the  news  which  Phil  had  already 
surmised. 

"  If  Captain  Garcia  comes  with  him,"  Phil 
pleaded,  "  don't  let  him  go  without  seeing 
me.  Tell  him  I  am  still  a  prisoner." 

Sydney  declared  he  would  see  to  that  as  he 
buckled  on  his  sword  and  made  for  his  station. 

The  roaring  of  many  guns  in  salute  from 
the  men-of-war,  told  the  imprisoned  mid 
shipman  that  General  Barras  was  on  board 
the  "  Connecticut." 

Five  minutes  later  Phil  received  a  sum 
mons  from  the  admiral,  which  he  obeyed 
with  alacrity.  On  entering  the  cabin  the 
astonished  boy  found  himself  in  the  presence 
of  General  Barras  and  Admiral  Spotts.  The 
midshipman  drew  himself  up  stiffly  to  "  atten 
tion,"  not  daring  to  glance  at  these  important 
men  ;  his  heart  beat  wildly. 

The  admiral  held  Phil's  sword  in  his  hand. 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          377 

"  I  take  great  pleasure  in  restoring  you  to 
duty,"  he  said  handing  the  confused  lad  the 
badge  of  honor.  The  admiral  turned  toward 
General  Barras,  inclining  his  head  in  Phil's 
direction. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Perry,"  he  added. 

The  president  acknowledged  the  introduc 
tion  with  a  cordial  hand  shake. 

"  I  have  already  had  the  honor  of  meeting 
Midshipman  Perry,"  he  exclaimed,  "  but  I 
could  not  then  thank  him  appropriately,  for  I 
knew  only  a  part  of  his  splendid  service  to 
us."  Then  turning  an  admiring  glance  at  the 
embarrassed  boy  : 

"  Senor  Perry,"  he  continued,  "  your  gallant 
deeds  will  ever  be  remembered  by  true  patriots 
of  Verazala.  Please  convey  my  personal 
thanks  to  your  two  companions." 

Phil  found  voice  to  stammer  his  gratitude 
for  this  unheard  of  honor  ;  then  he  withdrew 
from  the  cabin. 

As  he  closed  the  door  behind  him,  the  knob 
was  wrenched  from  his  hand  and  he  found 
himself  in  Captain  Garcia's  strong  embrace ; 
that  officer  had  been  an  unobserved  witness  to 
the  lad's  happy  discomfiture. 


378  A  UNITED  STATES 

While  the  two  friends  walked  arm  in  arm 
to  Phil's  room,  where  Sydney  was  awaiting 
them,  the  boy  poured  out  his  heartfelt  thanks 
to  the  naval  man  for  his  zealous  work  in  his 
behalf. 

"  I  am  further  in  your  debt  than  I  can  ever 
repay,"  exclaimed  Captain  Garcia,  refusing  to 
listen  to  the  earnest  words  of  his  young  friend. 
"  What  I  did  last  night  was  nothing  ;  and  more 
over,  it  has  led  to  the  unmasking  of  a  traitor 
to  my  country." 

"  O'Neil  has  told  us,"  replied  Phil.  "  Did 
you  capture  him?  "  he  asked  eagerly. 

"  Senor  Mareno  has  escaped,"  the  naval 
officer  told  the  lads ;  "  he  is  now  on  board  a 
foreign  war-ship  and  as  he  is  a  political 
refugee,  we  cannot  demand  him.  General 
Barras  knows  all,  and  will  give  the  conces 
sions  to  the  American  syndicate.  The  minis 
ter  of  course  knows  nothing  of  how  close  he 
was  to  being  summarily  ordered  home.  Gen 
eral  Barras  was  in  such  a  rage  when  he 
learned  of  the  perfidy  of  Mareno,  his  trusted 
friend,  that  I  believe  if  he  had  been  arrested, 
the  president  would  have  ordered  his  execu 
tion." 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          379 

"  Have  you  heard  that  Ensign  Lazar  has 
resigned  ?  "  questioned  Sydney  in  his  turn. 

Captain  Garcia  was  soon  told  the  story  of 
the  court  martial  and  of  Lazar's  desertion. 

"  We  shall  see  that  he  doesn't  prosper  here," 
replied  the  Spaniard  determinedly  ;  then  with 
genuine  regrets  he  bid  them  farewell  and 
joined  the  president,  who  was  about  to  leave 
the  ship. 

After  Captain  Garcia  had  gone  our  two  lads 
lapsed  into  silence.  Their  thoughts  dwelt 
upon  the  stirring  events  of  the  last  few  weeks. 
What  a  relief  and  happiness  it  was  to  feel  that 
their  energy  and  foresight  had  been  repaid 
and  a  result  pleasing  to  their  countrymen  had 
been  achieved. 

"  The  captain  desires  to  see  Midshipmen 
Perry  and  Monroe,"  the  captain's  orderly  an 
nounced,  his  face  beaming  as  he  spoke  to  Phil. 
"  I  knowed  you  were  not  guilty,  sir ;  every 
mother's  son  of  us  forward  were  hoping  you'd 
not  be  punished." 

Phil  thanked  the  marine,  tears  of  gratitude 
springing  to  his  eyes,  while  the  two  midship 
men  arose  to  obey  their  captain's  summons. 

Captain  Taylor  awaited  them  in  his  cabin. 


380  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  I  have  just  finished  reading  the  proceed 
ings  of  Mr.  Perry's  court  martial,"  he  began, 
shaking  both  boys  by  the  hand,  "  and  I  could 
but  marvel  at  the  wickedness  of  Ensign 
Lazar  :  I  had  believed  he  was  an  example  of 
honor  and  efficiency.  The  actions  of  both  of 
you  have  been  worthy  of  the  best  traditions  of 
American  naval  officers.  You,  Mr.  Perry, 
were  willing  to  stand  convicted  of  this  mili 
tary  crime  rather  than  make  charges  against 
an  officer  which  were  conclusive  in  your  own 
mind  but  which  might  have  been  considered 
recriminating  in  the  mind  of  the  court." 

"  There  was  nothing  else  to  do,  sir,"  Phil 
replied,  his  face  flushed  with  pride.  "  I  did 
disobey  the  order  and  my  one  defense  was 
that  I  did  it  to  save  the  good  name  of  our 
minister." 

"  Sir,  the  officer  of  the  deck  reports  the 
signal  to  get  under  way  is  about  to  be  hoisted 
by  the  admiral,"  the  orderly  informed  the 
captain. 

"  Very  good,  orderly,"  Captain  Taylor  an 
swered,  and  then  turning  again  toward  the 
midshipmen,  who  had  moved  toward  the  door 
to  go  to  their  station  :  "  Gentlemen,  you  may 


MIDSHIPMAN  AFLOAT          381 

ever  consider  me  ready  to  help  you  in  your 
ambitions  in  the  service.  If  there  is  aught  I 
can  do  for  you,  let  me  know  ;  your  services 
here  can  only  be  rewarded  in  such  ways : 
official  recognition  is  denied  you." 

"  Well !  What  is  it  ?  "  the  captain  ex 
claimed,  reading  the  look  in  Phil's  face. 

"  We  would  like  to  go  to  the  Orient,  sir," 
Phil  answered  bashfully ;  "  we  want  to  see 
the  world." 

"  Is  that  all  you  wish?  "  returned  the  captain 
surprised  at  the  modesty  of  the  lads.  "  I 
shall  see  that  your  wish  is  gratified.  I  have 
received  an  intimation  that  I  shall  go  to  that 
station  when  I  have  received  my  promotion 
to  rear-admiral,  which  will  be  in  a  few  months 
now,  and  I  shall  be  happy  to  have  such 
officers  under  my  command.  I  am  sorry  the 
naval  regulation  does  not  allow  me  to  nomi 
nate  midshipmen  on  my  personal  staff." 

The  boys  thanked  him  enthusiastically. 
Phil  stood  irresolutely  regarding  the  captain  : 
there  was  one  more  request  he  wished  to 
make. 

"  Go  on,  out  with  it,"  Captain  Taylor  ex 
claimed  kindly. 


382  A  UNITED  STATES 

"  Boatswain's  Mate  O'Neil,  sir,  may  he  go 
too  ?  "  Phil  asked  hesitatingly. 

"Well!  Well!"  laughed  the  captain; 
"  yes,  I  shall  see  that  your  good  man  Friday 
goes  too." 

Within  an  hour  the  squadron  was  under 
way,  and  the  boys  took  their  last  view  of 
La  Boca,  not  without  regrets,  for  the  leaf  just 
turned  in  their  life  histories  had  been  an 
interesting  one.  As  they  scanned  the  scenes 
of  the  recent  adventures  they  could  hardly  be 
expected  to  realize  that  the  stirring  deeds  of 
the  past  few  weeks  formed  but  a  milestone  in 
the  career  of  one  who  served  his  country  on 
the  seas. 


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